Fifth Century Ship Uncovered During Subway Dig in Istanbul

A dig at the construction site of Istanbul’s Marmaray project, an undersea transport system in Yenikapi, Istanbul, has revealed a fully intact Byzantine cargo ship archeologists believe to be from the fifth century.

Archeologist Mehmet Ali Polat reported to Radikal Daily, that the find is the largest yet to be uncovered and that the ship’s cargo is still intact. “There is no other example in the world of a shipwreck where the timber of the ship as well as its load are in such good condition,” he said.

This 1400-year-old ship isn’t the first miracle find located in Yenikapi. Archeologists have been circling the site since 2004.

According to Today’s Zaman, 34 other Byzantine shipwrecks dating back to the fourth century have also been discovered near the site—a silted over harbor—though none are as well preserved as the most recent find. A collection of the discoveries, dubbed “the greatest nautical archaeological site of all time” by archeologists, is now on display at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.

The Marmaray project has uncovered a myriad of archeological sites that have provided snippets of historical information about the Byzantine Empire, including secret passages, tombs, churches, works from the Bronze Age, ports, vessels and city walls. Among those finds is the Port of Theodosius, which dates back to the fourth century and was found alongside the 35 sunken ships.

Zeynep Kiziltan, the leader of the Marmaray-Metro Salvage Excavations, told Radikal Daily that the dig is expected to proceed through the end of summer.