Reconstruction of 7th-century shipwreck at Yassi Ada, displayed at Bodrum Castle
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History | |
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Name | 7th-century wreck at Yassi Ada |
Owner | Byzantine Empire |
In service | 625/626 AD or later |
Identification | Byzantine |
Fate | Sunk |
Notes | |
General characteristics | |
Depth | 106-129 feet (32-39 m) |
Notes |
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Yassi Ada is an island off the coast of Bodrum, Turkey.[1] This area of the Mediterranean Sea is prone to strong winds, making a safe journey around the island difficult. The island could be called a ships' graveyard, on account of the number of wrecked ships off its southeastern tip. Three wreck sites have been excavated under the direction of George Bass of Texas A&M University. The first to be studied using archaeological techniques was a 4th-century Byzantine wreck, the second a 7th-century Byzantine wreck, and the third a 16th-century Ottoman wreck. Bass received funding for a summer excavation at the site from the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania and the National Geographic Society.[citation needed]