TheDokos shipwreck is the oldest underwater shipwreck discovery known toarcheologists.[1] The wreck has been dated to the secondProto-Helladic period, 2700–2200 BC.[2]
The remains of the shipwreck are located about 15–30 metres (50–100 ft) underwater off the coast of southernGreece near the island ofDokos (ancient name Aperopia) in theAegean Sea.[3] Dokos is about 100 kilometres (60 mi) east ofSparta,Peloponnese.[4]
The ship itself is long gone, as everythingbiodegradable has been dissolved by the sea. The only surviving evidence of the shipwreck is a cargo site of hundreds of clay vases and other ceramic items that were carried aboard the ship.[1] These four-thousand-year-old remains were discovered by American archeologistPeter Throckmorton on August 23, 1975.[5][6]
The Dokos wreck site was extensively excavated between 1989 and 1992 by the Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology (HIMA).[7] Archaeologist Dr. George Papathanasopoulos, President of HIMA, conducted the first ever full-scale excavation in Greece of an ancient shipwreck. Due to the irregularity of the seabed, a new system, the Sonic High Accuracy Ranging and Positioning System (SHARPS), was used to plot and map the underwater finds. Additional surveys were conducted and speculation that the remains dated to theEarly Helladic period was confirmed.[8]
According to HIMA, theCycladicpottery evidence is dated to around 2200 BC, which makes the Dokos wreck the oldest known underwater shipwreck yet discovered.[9] Theclay pots appear to be merchandise from an ancientArgolida manufacturing facility.[4] It is presumed that these were intended for trade to small coastal villages around the Gulf ofArgos and theMyrtoan Sea. The cargo site consists of one of the largest collections of Early Helladic II pottery known. This Helladic pottery technology developed before the invention of thepottery wheel.[8]
The pottery consisted of hundreds of ceramic pieces including cups, kitchenware, and urns. Over 500 clay vases were uncovered, dating to the Early Helladic period. There were a variety of sauceboats in multiple shapes and sizes. The bowls and sauceboats of the Early Helladic period were the most common types found in southern and central Greece. After further inspection of the sauceboats, it has been suggested that these types resemble those from Askitario inAttica, and are also comparable to ones inLerna and from theCyclades. This evidence shows that the shipwreck may lie on the maritime trade route from South Euboea to the Saronic and Argolid gulfs. There were manyamphorae found, as well asbasins, wide-mouthed jars,braziers, baking trays, askoi, pithoi, and common household utensils.[10]
Stone anchors were also found 40 meters from the wreck. The anchors consisted of two large boulders with holes bored in them, which likely would have been dropped before the ship sank.[4] Lead ingots used for trade were also found.[4] The merchant ship had a wide variety of tableware and it is speculated that it traded all over the region.[11]
During the 1989 to 1992 HIMA excavation, the site produced more than 15,000 potterysherds andartifacts. They also found manymillstones at the site, which are speculated to have been part of the ship's cargo or possibly used asballast. These artifacts and items were raised from the sea floor and transported to theSpetses Museum, where they will be studied and placed into conservation.[10]
