Two replicas of ancient ships to sail to Marseilles from Turkey


This is a replica of the oldest known shipwreck (Construction of the
replica and archaeology cites below). It seems to have been trading in
glass when sunk. Pictures at two of the sites.

An ancient voyage in just two months
Thursday, March 29, 2007

ÖMER ERBİL
Milliyet

The 360 Degree Research Group, which had built the replica of the
oldest known shipwreck, Uluburun II, is now getting ready to initiate
a new project anticipating a voyage from Phokaia (modern Foça) to the
Marseille via two replica ancient ships.

According to the project, the ships will reflect the periodic
features of 2,600 year ago and be built in line with the
archaeological characteristics of the period.

The ships are scheduled to set sail from İzmir's Eskifoça (Old Foça)
in April of 2008 and arrive in France's Marseille after a two-month
voyage, following the route of ships in 600 B.C. and thus stopping at
the Mediterranean and Aegean ports of Molyvos, Ithaka and Aléria,
spots where the ancient Foça people used to establish colonies.

The building of two ancient ships, planned both with sailing and
paddle, will kick off at the end of April in İzmir's Urla district.
The sailing commercial ship will be 15 meters long and the warship
with paddles will be 19 meters.

Project adviser Osman Erkurt of the 360 Degree Research Group said,
�We already discussed the issue with Marseille Municipality, which
assured us that they would support our project. It seems that
Marseille will see lots of Turkish flags next year.�

The research group's project will also include an international
symposium in Foça where scientists will make a presentation on Foça
colonies as well as an exhibition in Marseille where ancient Foça
ships will be featured. Besides these activities, works will be
carried out in an effort to make İzmir and Marseille into brother
cities and a documentary featuring the ship's voyages will be shot.



Uluburun:

A replica of the oldest known shipwreck, Uluburun II, was built by
the 360 Degree Historical Research Association in Urla, İzmir and
displayed in Bodrum as part of activities marking the 80th anniversary
of Sabotage Day in July.

Considered to be one of the most significant archaeological finds of
the 20th century, the 3,300-year-old Uluburun took its place in
history as the oldest commercial vessel while the artifacts -
including a 3,300-year-old seal believed to belong to Egyptian Queen
Nefertiti, a huge amphora and jewelry - excavated from the shipwreck
excited science and archeology circles.

The artifacts discovered in the Uluburun shipwreck are still on
display at the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum.

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=69237

Construction
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=47389
Archaeology
http://ina.tamu.edu/ub_main.htm

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