Between 1984 and 1994 the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) excavated the remains of a Late Bronze Age shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship’s cargo consisted primarily of raw materials, including glass.

Courtesy of Institute of Nautical Archaeology, Texas A & M University

Underwater Archaeology Student Activity

1) Watch the Underwater Archaeology video and listen carefully for the answers to the following questions.

• Where was the shipwreck found?
• How old was the shipwreck?
• What did the archaeologists do before they removed the objects?
• What was included in the ship’s cargo?
• How would the ingots of glass be used?
• How do we know what ingredients were used to make glass in the ancient Near East?
• List four ways glass scholars have learned about glass of the ancient world.

2) Dig deeper: Visit the Institute of Nautical Archaeology website to learn more about this underwater excavation.

Exactly where was the shipwreck located?
In addition to the materials mentioned in the video, what specific artifacts were found and what do they tell us about the cultures of that time?

Answers

If you haven't seen the video yet, watch it and try to answer the questions before you look at the answers.

Published on December 8, 2011