Originally published Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Ancient canoe found at bottom of Black Sea

Fishermen discovered a well-preserved ancient wooden dugout canoe at the bottom of the Black Sea, scientists said Saturday.

By The Associated Press

PREV of NEXT

PETAR PETROV / AP

Dimitar Nedkov, head of the Archaeological Museum in Sozopol, Bulgaria, measures a well-preserved ancient wooden canoe that was retrieved from the Black Sea. The vessel was discovered by fishermen trailing nets along the sea bottom, said Nedkov.

SOFIA, Bulgaria — A well-preserved ancient wooden dugout canoe has been discovered at the bottom of the Black Sea, scientists said Saturday.

The vessel was discovered by fishermen trailing nets along the sea bottom some 15 miles off the coast, said Dimitar Nedkov, head of the Archaeological Museum in the port city of Sozopol.

The dugout is 8 ½ feet long and 27 ½ inches wide, and it is made most probably of oak, Nedkov said.

Bulgarian explorers have found four ancient vessels in remarkably good condition in the Black Sea, whose oxygen-depleted deep water preserves wrecks without the worm damage and deterioration that normally affects wooden vessels.

"Nowhere else can you find similar dugouts, as well as any kind of wooden vessels over 300 years old, because water rots the wood away," said Bozhidar Dimitrov, head of the National Museum of History. "In the Black Sea, however, there is dissolved hydrogen sulfide below a certain depth which preserves all organic materials."

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view Share: Digg Newsvine

Comments

No comments have been posted to this article. Start the conversation.

Read all comments / Share your thoughts

More Nation & World

UPDATE - 09:27 AM
Service sector shrinks less than expected in June

UPDATE - 09:59 AM
Obama, Medvedev agree to pursue nuclear reduction

Ousted Honduras leader blocked from return by air

Pakistan attack targets nuclear lab workers

UPDATE - 10:49 AM
Bankruptcy judge OKs GM sale plan, appeal looms

Advertising

Video

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.