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.
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."
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 10:01 AM
Rebels tighten hold on Libya oil port
UPDATE - 09:29 AM
Reality leads US to temper its tough talk on Libya
UPDATE - 09:38 AM
2 Ark. injection wells may be closed amid quakes
Armed guards save Dutch couple from Somali pirates
Navy to release lewd video investigation findings

nwautos
The Los Angeles Times asked the editors at auto information company Edmunds.com, senior director of Consumer Reports' automotive test center and reade...
Post a comment
- Possible clues, no quick answers in Powell case
- Stray bullet killed partygoer, 20, in Redmond; suspect charged
- Why we shouldn't feel guilty about stealing another city's team | Jerry Brewer
- Full of surprises: The story behind Shaquille Thompson signing with Washington
- Santorum takes on protesters at Tacoma rally
- Documents bolster claim of Reardon misconduct
- Gregoire signs gay marriage into law
- Boeing locks in biggest plane order with Lion Air
- Iranian boats in Gulf shadow USS Abraham Lincoln
- Before Lin-sanity, the NBA had Billy Ray Bates | Steve Kelley
- Gregoire signs gay marriage into law
1601 - Documents bolster claim of Reardon misconduct
246 - Carrying the pain for 70 years: Japanese Americans' internment
187 - Josh Powell's family wants burial near slain boys
126 - Details about Seattle NBA arena plan "very close"
100 - Lawmakers move to cusp of deal on payroll tax cut
91 - Smokers beware: State wants to fight roll-your-own shops
77 - Gay marriage referendum renumbered
73 - ACLU: gay-marriage initiative needs to reflect reality
69 - Full of surprises: The story behind Shaquille Thompson signing with Washington
62
- Carrying the pain for 70 years: Japanese Americans' internment
- Looking for sprouts? You might have to look hard, and think twice | All You Can Eat
- AT&T customers surprised by 'unlimited data' limit
- Documents bolster claim of Reardon misconduct
- Eddie Bauer to get a new CEO
- Lots of options for getting students into computer programming
- Heart dogs: Marla Williams and Carl | Tails of Seattle
- Used materials are reborn into charming garden sheds | Plant Life
- An octopus blind date! | Picture This
- J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding wins bid to build fishing vessel










