Possible reason behind the sinking of ancient Red-Sea-ship uncovered

CAIRO – 14 April 2021: Under the supervision of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the archaeological mission of the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, succeeded in uncovering the front of the ship wrecked on Saadana Island in the Red Sea, parts of which had been found in 1994.

What did the mission of the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University find?

The mission also found the middle part of the ship and hundreds of finds and artifacts that were part of the ship's cargo.

Which mission found parts of the ship in 1994?

The ship was found during excavations in 1994 by the American Naval Antiquities Center mission.

When did the Faculty of Arts mission start its work?

The archaeological mission of the Faculty of Arts started its work at the site in 2017, with the aim of uncovering the rest of the hull and documenting it using photogrammetric technology. 

This is in addition to making an accurate three-dimensional model of the ship, studying its design and preserving the artifacts that were discovered.

What are the results of the preliminary studies on the ship?

Studies conducted by the mission indicated that the sunken ship is a merchant ship dating back to the mid-18thcentury. Its cargo included porcelain, pottery vessels of various shapes and sizes, in addition to different types of grains.

Have studies clarified the cause of the shipwreck?

Studies revealed that it is likely that the ship had collided with the huge steep coral reefs present at this site during its voyage from Southeast Asia to Egypt.