Why ancient wooden ships are preserved in the Black Sea

[guy]

A recent post (see below) about a recovered warship of Mithradates VI (135-63 BCE) made me wonder why the Black Sea has been a source of ancient well-preserved wooden ships.

 Below is a great video on the subject:

The core reason for the remarkable preservation is its deep anoxic (lacking oxygen) layer. Below roughly 150 m, the Black Sea contains almost no oxygen, a result of its unusual stratification. Dense saltwater from the Mediterranean settled at the bottom when the basin was flooded around 5600 BCE, while lighter freshwater remained above. Because the layers do not mix, oxygen from the surface never reaches the depths. In this oxygen‑free zone, the organisms that normally destroy wood, rope, leather, and even human remains cannot survive. As a result, shipwrecks—Greek, Roman, Byzantine—remain intact, sometimes with masts still standing and cargo undisturbed.  

The Black Sea’s anoxic deep waters, flood‑driven submerged coastlines, and long history as a cultural transport highway make it unusually rich in archaeological discoveries

 

 

https://unanswered.io/guide/unraveling-the-mysteries-of-the-black-sea

 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by guy