Medieval Shipwreck Discovered in Russia

Bum Luck

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from Archaeology Magazine, published today:

KAZAN, RUSSIA–Samara Polytech announced the discovery of a boat dated to the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century in the Volga River in southwestern Russia. A survey conducted with underwater ultrasound scanners revealed the wreckage measures more than 160 feet long and 65 feet wide. Under 30 feet of water, much of the ship is covered in silt, but the ultrasound images revealed its timbers, a large chain, and ropes. Team leader Ekaterina Semenova said such a large ship may have been built in Asia, Scandinavia, or Western Europe, although there were also Slavic settlements along the Volga at the time. It is not clear if the vessel was used for trade or military purposes. In addition, a corroded metal nail recovered from the shipwreck was examined using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy at Samara Polytech and atomic emission spectroscopy at Samara University, and found to consist of nearly pure iron, which is consistent with a medieval date for the vessel.

Original story, Nov 8th, with video: phys.org/wire-news

Google Earth: Vinnovka, Samara Oblast, Russia
 

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Alexandre

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That dating sounds a lot like wishful thinking... that chain is definitely not medieval.
 

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DetecTom

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Regardless, I would love to see pictures of the wreck and see what might still be aboard.
 

xaos

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hold on...a medieval ship 160 FEET LONG and 65 FEET WIDE????

The image shows a round "bolt" at least 18 inches long. That length is suspect as a fastener from the 1500's, and round certainly was not used in ship construction of the day.

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This is a nut/bolt fastener in my opinion...there is no way a forged fastener of that timeframe would be that long, round, and have that thickness of "head" on it.

Coupled with the anchor chain, I dont think this is a medieval wreck...

Carbon dating cannot take into account recycling.

One also notes the lack of decay and decomposition of wood timbers, (and fasteners) in fresh water at only 10m?
 

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A2coins

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Awesome post thats freakin cool
 

A2coins

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I wish it was me finding it though lol
 

CoinFetcher

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I work in the sea, I see 100lbs of Steel turn to black crust and dust in a couple years.

Their would have to be a huge electrical annode (Zinc, aluminum, tin) nearby to let that piece of iron stay intact.
 

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Bum Luck

Bum Luck

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I work in the sea, I see 100lbs of Steel turn to black crust and dust in a couple years.

Their would have to be a huge electrical annode (Zinc, aluminum, tin) nearby to let that piece of iron stay intact.


Freshwater is different; much less conductive.


As far as the date, it is from Archaeology Magazine. They will not respond to me, but could to Alexandre.
 

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