LISBON, PORTUGAL (WHDH)- A centuries-old shipwreck was discovered off the coast of a Lisbon, Portugal suburb earlier this month.

Archeologists working for Nova University of Lisbon in partnership with the Portuguese government found the ship on September 3, submerged just 40 feet from the surface not far from the coast of Cascais, a suburb of Lisbon, according to officials.

Aboard the ship divers found Chinese ceramics, shells used for currency and spices, according to maritime archeologists.

It is believed that the vessel sank sometime between 1575 and 1625.

“This is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the century,” Cascais Mayor Carlos Carreiras said.

Some of the artifacts have been removed so as to preserve them.

Divers are expected to return to the site in hopes of finding more treasures in the fathoms below. </s> Archeologists have found a centuries-old shipwreck off Portugal’s coast near Lisbon, a local mayor’s office said Saturday.

Aboard the ship, thought to have sunk between 1575 and 1625, divers found spices, including pepper; Chinese ceramics from the period; and cowries, a type of shell used as currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time.

The project’s science director, Jorge Freire, called it the “discovery of the decade.”

“From a conservation perspective, both of the assets as of the ship itself, this discovery is of great patrimonial value,” he said.

Also found were some of the ship’s bronze cannons, engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms and the armillary sphere that are still featured in the Portuguese flag.

Judging by what’s been found so far, the ship was probably coming into Lisbon from India, Freire said.

The wreck was discovered September 3 as part of an underwater investigation project spearheaded by Cascais, a city near Lisbon, with help from Nova University of Lisbon, the Portuguese government and navy. The ship was found just 40 feet (12 meters) below the surface.

“This is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the century,” Cascais Mayor Carlos Carreiras said. “The recognition from the scientific community that this is the discovery of the decade, the century, in terms of marine archeology, is for us of great satisfaction.”

Some objects were removed from the wreck for safekeeping, as they were at risk of permanently being lost.

Divers will continue exploring the wreck, and researchers will “have to complement the work in the field with research in our historical archives, to find out exactly which ship” this was, Freire said.

The Chinese ceramics found are from the Wanli period (1573-1619) , a late era in the Ming dynasty. </s> (CNN) Archeologists have found a centuries-old shipwreck off Portugal's coast near Lisbon, a local mayor's office said Saturday.

Aboard the ship, thought to have sunk between 1575 and 1625, divers found spices, including pepper; Chinese ceramics from the period; and cowries, a type of shell used as currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time.

The project's science director, Jorge Freire, called it the "discovery of the decade."

"From a conservation perspective, both of the assets as of the ship itself, this discovery is of great patrimonial value," he said.

Maritime archaeologists explore the shipwreck.

Also found were some of the ship's bronze cannons, engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms and the armillary sphere that are still featured in the Portuguese flag.

Read More </s> Lisbon, Sep 23 (IANS) Archeologists have found a centuries-old shipwreck off Portugal’s coast near Lisbon, authorities said.

Aboard the ship, thought to have sunk between 1575 and 1625, divers found spices, including pepper; Chinese ceramics from the period; and cowries, a type of shell used as currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time, CNN quoted the authorities as saying on SATURDAY.

The project’s science director, Jorge Freire, called it the “discovery of the decade”.

“From a conservation perspective, both of the assets as of the ship itself, this discovery is of great patrimonial value,” he said.

Also found were some of the ship’s bronze cannons, engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms and the armillary sphere that are still featured in the Portuguese flag.

Judging by what’s been found so far, the ship was probably coming into Lisbon from India, Freire said.

the wreck was discovered on September 3 as part of an underwater investigation project spearheaded by Cascais, a city near Lisbon, with help from Nova University of Lisbon, the Portuguese government and navy.

The ship was found just 40 feet below the surface. </s> A centuries-old shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Portugal.The vessel is believed to have sank sometime between 1575 and 1625.Archaeologists found spices and Chinese ceramics onboard along with currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time.Drivers will continue to work at the site to see if they can uncover further information about the ship and its cargo.------ </s> The world’s oldest intact shipwreck has been found at the bottom of the Black Sea — where it had been laying undisturbed for more than 2,400 years, archaeologists said Tuesday.

The 75-foot merchant vessel — thought to have sailed during Ancient Greek and Roman times — was salvaged by British scientists about 50 miles off the coast of Bulgaria, as part of the Black Sea Maritime Archaeological Project.

“This is an incredible find. The first of its kind ever,” Dr. Kroum Batchvarov, who worked on the project, told Sky News. “We have complete vessel, with the masts still standing, with the quarter rudders in place,”

A lack of oxygen in the Black Sea is thought to have preserved the vessel so well, that even bones from the Monkfish the sailors ate on board remained intact on deck.

The ship is believed to have been a trading vessel, similar to ones depicted on ancient Greek pottery, like the “Siren Vase” which is exhibited at the British Museum, according to The Guardian UK.

It’s among more than 60 shipwrecks uncovered by the international team of maritime archaeologists and scientists working on the $19 million, three-year mission to explore the Black Sea’s depths.

The team’s findings will be presented at the British Museum Tuesday. </s> An ancient Greek trading ship dating back more than 2,400 years has been found virtually intact at the bottom of the Black Sea, researchers said on Tuesday.

The vessel is one of more than 60 shipwrecks identified by the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project including Roman ships and a 17th-century Cossack raiding fleet.

During the three-year project, researchers used specialist remote deep-water camera systems previously used in offshore oil and gas exploration to map the sea floor.

"A small piece of the vessel has been carbon dated and it is confirmed as the oldest intact shipwreck known to mankind," the project said in a statement.

The ship, which is lying on its side with its mast and rudders intact, was dated back to 400 BC - a time when the Black Sea was a trading hub filled with Greek colonies. </s> The Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project finds a virtually intact ancient Greek trading ship dating back more than 2,400 years at the bottom of the Black Sea, the world's oldest known shipwreck

LONDON, United Kingdom – An ancient Greek trading ship dating back more than 2,400 years has been found virtually intact at the bottom of the Black Sea, the world's oldest known shipwreck, researchers said on Tuesday, October 23.

The vessel is one of more than 60 shipwrecks identified by the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project including Roman ships and a 17th-century Cossack raiding fleet.

During the 3-year project, researchers used specialist remote deep-water camera systems previously used in offshore oil and gas exploration to map the sea floor.

"A small piece of the vessel has been carbon dated and it is confirmed as the oldest intact shipwreck known to mankind," the project said in a statement.

The ship, which is lying on its side with its mast and rudders intact, was dated back to 400 BC – a time when the Black Sea was a trading hub filled with Greek colonies.

The team said the vessel, previously only seen in an intact state on the side of ancient Greek pottery, was found at a depth of more than 2,000 metres (6,500 feet).

The water at that depth is oxygen-free, meaning that organic material can be preserved for thousands of years.

"A ship, surviving intact, from the Classical world, lying in over two kilometers of water, is something I would never have believed possible," said Professor Jon Adams from the University of Southampton in southern England, the project's main investigator.

"This will change our understanding of shipbuilding and seafaring in the ancient world," he said.

Helen Farr, a project team member, said: "We have bits of shipwreck which are earlier but this one really looks intact".

"The project as a whole was actually looking at sea level change and the flooding of the Black Sea region... and the shipwrecks are a happy by-product of that," she told BBC radio. – Rappler.com </s> An ancient Greek trading ship dating back more than 2,400 years has been found virtually intact at the bottom of the Black Sea, researchers said on Tuesday. The vessel is one of more than 60 shipwrecks identified by the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project including Roman ships and a 17th-century Cossack raiding fleet.

During the three-year project, researchers used specialist remote deep-water camera systems previously used in offshore oil and gas exploration to map the sea floor. “A small piece of the vessel has been carbon dated and it is confirmed as the oldest intact shipwreck known to mankind,” the project said in a statement. The ship, which is lying on its side with its mast and rudders intact, was dated back to 400 BC — a time when the Black Sea was a trading hub filled with Greek colonies.

The team said the vessel, previously only seen in an intact state on the side of ancient Greek pottery, was found at a depth of more than 2,000 metres (6,500 feet). The water at that depth is oxygen-free, meaning that organic material can be preserved for thousands of years.

“A ship, surviving intact, from the Classical world, lying in over 2km of water, is something I would never have believed possible,” said Professor Jon Adams from the University of Southampton in southern England, the project’s main investigator. “This will change our understanding of shipbuilding and seafaring in the ancient world,” he said.
Archaeologists discover a centuries-old shipwreck near the Portugal coast of Cascais.