Pile of stones that Eshel discovered off the shore. The stones were not typical of the region and caused Eshel to further examine the area.Ships are unique. A ship is a microcosm of politcal, economic, cultural, and technological activity. Why do we deem the discovery of a ship so significant? Ships serve as a bridge between different cultures and different peoples carrying goods, ideas, and technologies. Understanding the technological achievements embodied in the building of a ship, its navigation, its method of propulsion, its loading capacity, and its constant confrontation with the elements is a major task.
Aditional pictures of divers during the excavation processThe excavation process took place over three seasons, from 1988 to 1989. It was carried out by a team of nautical archaeologists and technical staff from the Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies at the University of Haifa, who were joined by specialists and advisors from Israel and abroad. Jay Rosloff from the U.S.A served as the field director.
Replication of the shipIn order to advance the study of shipping in antiquity and to extend our knowledge of the Ma'agan Mikhael Ship, the plan is to build a replica of this ship. It will be built by an identical method of "shell-first construction," with similar materials to those utilized by the ancient shipwright. The intention is to sail this replica across the Mediterranean Sea, making use of ancient navigation means and methods.
Reassembling the ancient ship
The planks that were distorted have since been reshaped. Each piece of planking was submerged for a night in PEG, a chemical compound used to conserve wooden artifacts, at 60°C to render it flexible. It was then eased into its original shape and held in place using battens and clamps. This jigsaw puzzle was made easier by the original labeling (stainless steel needles and Dymo tape), which survived the years of the conservation process and all of the handling to which the parts were subjected.