Yassiada Shipwrecks
Yassiada Shipwrecks Hall is reserved for three of 16 ships that crashed into a shallow near Yassıada, west of Turgutreis.
The remains of three shipwrecks were found during the research carried out in this dangerous area, which turned into a ship graveyard for centuries.
The Yassıada Byzantine Shipwreck
The Yassıada Byzantine Shipwreck was a 7th-century ship, 20 meters long and 5.22 meters wide, carrying around (900-1000) amphorae. It had about 60 tons capacity.
The ¼ width and length ratios gave the ship an elongated form, giving additional speed to the vessel.
The ship was carrying large spherical amphoras with a capacity of 40 liters and small 9-liter amphoras.
The ship possibly belonged to a monastery and captain Georgios, an elderly priest whose name is written on the scale.
The Byzantine Shipwreck was excavated between 1961 and 1964, with 3533 dives by a diving team of 12 divers.
The ship sank by colliding with the shallows near Yassıada in 626 AD, while wars shook the Byzantine Empire. The gold and copper coins found on the ship indicated that the ship sank during the reign of Emperor Heraclitus.
Post-excavation work on artifacts, spread over a slope and at a depth ranging from 32 to 36 meters, took 18 years.
After examining the tiles and kitchen utensils found in the shipwreck in Yassıada, archeologists thought a kitchen was on the ship.
Archeologists found fishing nets, weights, a harpoon used for fishing, and a large scale with Georgios’ inscription on the ship.
Archeologists discovered Sixteen gold and 54 copper coins dating from Emperor Heraclitus’s time, helping to date the ship. According to the newest coin on board the vessel, the boat is dated 626 AD.
Another exciting find on the ship is called the “wine thief,” used to draw wine from the amphora without tilting it.
The ship was built with the shell first technique used up to the water level, and Above the waterline, it was completed with the “keel first technique.”
4th Century Wreck
The shipwreck, located 100 meters south of Yassıada and lay deeper than the Byzantine shipwreck, at 36 to 42 meters, is dated to the 4th century or early fifth century AD. The Roman Wreck was excavated between 1967-1969.
The ship’s hull, about 19 meters long, was made of cypress wood, and its keel was made of white oak.
Experts discovered four lamps, pottery, and large jars at the stern of this ship carrying 1100 amphorae.
The Ottoman Shipwreck
The Ottoman period shipwreck, found near the Roman Shipwreck, was dated to the late 16th century because of its cargo and wood items. The ship was Originally built in Spain, but the Ottoman navy later captured it and used it as a corgi ship. Archaeologists also discovered a coin belonging to King of Spain Philip III, which dates to the early 17th century.
Discovered in 1967 and excavated between 1982 and 1983, this modest-sized ship served as a cargo ship for the Ottoman Navy.