The Byzantine-Aksumite period shipwreck at Black Assarca Island, Eritrea

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Periodical article

Title:	The Byzantine-Aksumite period shipwreck at Black Assarca Island, Eritrea
Author:	Pedersen, Ralph K.
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa (ISSN 1945-5534)
Volume:	43
Pages:	77-94
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs., ills., maps
Geographic terms:	Eritrea Northeast Africa Red Sea
Subjects:	archaeology pottery shipwrecks 0-999 History, Archaeology Archaeological sites
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/00672700809480460
Abstract:	Black Assarca Island (off the coast of Eritrea in the Red Sea) became the focus of archaeological investigation beginning in 1995, when ceramics lying here on the sea floor were discovered. Some 15 centuries ago a ship wrecked off Black Assarca and lay undiscovered until 1995. In subsequent excavations, no evidence was found of the ship, but three types of amphorae, several ceramic finds that did not come from amphorae, a piece of glass and a counter-balance weight for a steelyard were discovered. On the basis of the found pottery, it was determined that the site was probably that of a wrecked ship dating from the 5th to 7th centuries AD. The cargo was probably being transported from Aila, at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, to Adulis (in present-day Eritrea). At least one more season of excavations is required to fully understand the site. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]