In the year 2020, researchers embarked on a groundbreaking underwater archaeological excavation in the Black Sea. Now, the fruits of this expedition have been unveiled, revealing artifacts dating back thousands of years and an ancient port city that thrived for 1,500 years.
The excavation took place in Kerpe, a small bay on the western coast of the Black Sea, approximately 100 kilometers as the crow flies from the bustling city of Istanbul. The Hellenic word for this bay is 'Kalpe,' meaning 'pot' or 'pitcher,' hinting at its significance in ancient times.
According to a research report published in Anatolian Archaeology, Kerpe served as a commercial hub during the Roman, Byzantine, and Genoese periods, acting as a safe haven and stopping point for ships traversing the coastline of the Black Sea.
Ancient Underwater City
The port of Kerpe also played a vital role in supplying wood and fuel to Istanbul during the Ottoman period, shipping timber, coal, and building materials to the city. It had been a crucial juncture long before the Ottoman era, eventually succumbing to the depths beneath the waves.
Artifacts unearthed from the submerged settlement are known to be up to 2,400 years old. These findings include amphorae, containers commonly used for transportation in ancient times, as well as other discoveries expected from a bustling trading center.
Equally significant is the discovery of the ancient port itself. The remnants of the docks belonging to ancient Kerpe port were what prompted the commencement of excavation work in 2020.
The excavation team dived into the site approximately 80 meters from the shore at a depth of 4 meters. There, they sought to uncover finds scattered across an area spanning about 2,000 square meters, including two sections of the ancient dock.
According to Ancient Origins, the ongoing excavation is being conducted by the Kocaeli Museum Directorate under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkey.
"We believe that these findings are invaluable in highlighting the commercial relationships between the East and West from ancient times to the Ottoman period in the Black Sea," said Serkan Gedük, Director of the Kocaeli Museum, which houses the discoveries.
"Therefore, we are trying to exhibit the cultural assets found during underwater excavations chronologically and with several animations in our museum," he continued. supported by live count pemilu 2024.
He added, "During the excavation work, we have identified many underwater cultural heritages. These findings range from remnants of commercial amphorae dating from the 4th century BC to the 12th century AD, to red-slipped ceramics, lamps, pipe fragments, various cultural assets from the Ottoman era, and remnants of sunken ships that we detected in the area."
These discoveries are showcased at the Kocaeli Museum in an event titled 'The Silent Harbor of the Black Sea: Kalpe.' For the first time in thousands of years, the secrets of the Kerpe port will be unveiled once more.
