Table Of Contented rachal foundation
nautical archaeology series
in Association with the
Institute of Nautical Archaeology
S e r ç e L i m a n i
S e rç e L i m a n i
An Eleventh-Century Shipwreck
volume i
The Ship and Its Anchorage, Crew, and Passengers
by
ff
George F. Bass, Sheila D. Matthews, J. Richard Ste y,
and Frederick H. van Doorninck, Jr.
with
James W. Allan, Philip L. Armitage, Robert H. Brill, Robert S. Carter, Kenneth Cassavoy,
Frederick M. Hocker, Robert Maddin, Marilyn Jenkins-Madina, Élisabeth Malamut,
G. Venetia Piercy, Robin C. M. Piercy, Cemal Pulak, Curtis Runnels, M. L. Ryder,
Joseph K. Schwarzer II, Dorothy A. Slane, Tamara Stech, Sophie Stos-Gale,
R. S. Thorpe, Cheryl Ward, and O. Williams-Thorpe
Illustrated by
Selma Ag˘ar, G. Venetia Piercy, and Sema Pulak
Photographs by
Donald A. Frey
Published with the cooperation of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology
by
texas a&m university press
• College Station
Copyright ©
by George F. Bass, Sheila D. Matthews, J. Richard Steffy,
and Frederick H. van Doorninck, Jr.
Manufactured in the
United States of America
All rights reserved
First edition
The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements
of the American National Standard for Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, .-.
Binding materials have been chosen for durability.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Serc¸e Limanı : an eleventh-century shipwreck / by George F. Bass ...[et al.] ; with
James W. Allan ... [et al.] ; illustrated by Selma Ag˘ar, G. Venetia Piercy, and Sema
Pulak ; photographs by Donald A. Frey.—st ed.
p. cm.—(Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series in association
with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology)
Published with the cooperation of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
---
. Turkey—Antiquities. . Shipwrecks—Turkey. I. Bass, George
Fletcher. II. Allan, James W. III. Series.
.
.'—dc
To the memory of
Y
Nixon Gri s
(1917–1993)
Nixon Griffis was the first patron of nautical archaeology as our isolated diving barge, sleeping on its bare, rough deck
practiced in the Mediterranean today, for in he made the under a sheet of canvas.
initial contribution toward my excavation of a Bronze Age In , when I had another dream, a private Institute of
shipwreck at Cape Gelidonya, Turkey, which became the first Nautical Archaeology, Nixon Griffis became a founding direc-
ancient wreck excavated in its entirety on the seabed. I first tor, later chairman of the board. He helped it grow into an
met Nixon when Peter Throckmorton, who had found the international organization, now affiliated with Texas A&M
wreck, showed slides of it to potential sponsors in his New University. When he said he was getting too old to be a regu-
York garret, trying to convince them that careful underwater lar diver, we thought we would not see him again in our
excavation was not only possible, but of archaeological and camps. But one day in the late s, when we were excavat-
historical importance. Nixon was the only person to pledge ing the shipwreck described in this and succeeding volumes,
support that evening. I, then only a graduate student, still a tiny Turkish fishing boat with only a small boy at the helm
wonder what gave him faith in Peter and me—and our emerged from a raging storm. Unshaven and soaked by spray,
dreams—at a time when our fund-raising efforts generally Nixon stepped ashore, said he had heard that we were low on
were rebuffed. funds, handed us the cash to complete the job, spent the night,
That was but the beginning. Annually, throughout the and headed back into the high seas for his return flight to New
s, Nixon continued and increased his support for the York. Those who had never met him before were astonished.
University of Pennsylvania excavations I led with Frederick I was not.
van Doorninck on various other shipwrecks in Turkish waters. Nixon Griffis was also a founding director and past presi-
Then president of Brentano’s bookstores, Nixon Griffis was dent of the American Littoral Society, and a conservationist
the first “rich man” I had ever known, but he wanted no favors trustee of the New York Zoological Society. Modest, generous,
when he visited to dive with us. He shared camp duties, lived and adventurous, he was not only a pioneer, but a true friend
on beans and rice, and insisted on taking his turn as guard of who is sorely missed.
GFB
Contents
Preface A “Replica” Section for the Hull Reconstruction
Abbreviations Frederick M. Hocker
Supporting Structure
. Introduction and Explanations Robin C. M. Piercy and Sheila D. Matthews
Serçe Limanı and Its Wrecks . Construction and Analysis of the Vessel
Explanation of Site Plan J. Richard Steffy
Example and Explanation of Catalog Entries . Evidence for the Rig of the Serçe Limanı Ship
Spelling of Byzantine Names Sheila D. Matthews
George F. Bass . The Anchors
Frederick H. van Doorninck, Jr.
Part I: The Ship, the Site, and the Excavation Iron Analysis
Tamara Stech and R. Maddin
Section I: The History of Serçe Limanı . Ballast Distribution and Weight
Frederick H. van Doorninck, Jr.
. The Region of Serçe Limanı in Classical Times . The Querns
Robert S. Carter Curtis Runnels
. The Region of Serçe Limanı in Byzantine Times
Élisabeth Malamut Part II: Possessions and Victuals
. An Archaeological History of the Anchorage
Dorothy Slane Section IV. Probable Personal Possessions of Crew
and Passengers, Excluding Ceramic Wares and
Section II: Discovery, Excavation, and Conservation Commercial Equipment
. Discovery, Excavation, and Conservation . The Ship, Its Lading, and Its Living Spaces
George F. Bass and Frederick H. van Doorninck, Jr. George F. Bass and Frederick H. van Doorninck, Jr.
. Personal Effects
Section III: The Ship: Hull, Rigging, Anchors, and Ballast George F. Bass
. Jewelry
. Introduction to Ship Studies Marilyn Jenkins-Madina
J. Richard Steffy Chemical Analyses of Some Rings
. Recording the Hull Robert H. Brill
Sheila D. Matthews . Tools
. The Hull Remains Frederick M. Hocker
Sheila D. Matthews and J. Richard Steffy . The Gaming Pieces
. Reconstruction, Reassembly, and Display Kenneth Cassavoy
J. Richard Steffy, Sheila D. Matthews, Conclusions
Frederick M. Hocker, and Robin C. M. Piercy Kenneth Cassavoy and George F. Bass
Laboratory Reconstruction . Metal Vessels
Richard Steffy The Vessels
Hull Reassembly James W. Allan
Sheila D. Matthews Chemical Analyses of Some Metal Objects
Robert H. Brill
