470 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1963 







Figure 3. — Divers photograph and excavate seventh-century shipwreck at depth of 



120 feet. 



The Byzantine wreck is still being excavated, but already much 

 has been learned. The hull was filled with a cargo of nearly 1,000 

 wine jars, mostly large globular amphoras, stacked in several layers. 

 Across the bow lay six iron anchors with a seventh just off the star- 

 board side. Toward the stern of the ship was found a flat, 

 depressed area with scattered roof tiles that had covered the ship's 

 cabin, and just aft of this was the crew's large water jar. Beneath 

 the tiles were found the personal belongings of the captain. A small 

 hoard of gold coins, all dated to the reign of the Emperor Heraclius 

 (610-641), gives us a fairly solid date for the sinking of the ship and, 

 therefore, dates the objects found in it. This would make the 

 tableware from the cabin, including plates, pitchers, cups, bowls, jars, 



