Knidos F, L and N: Three Deep Sea Shipwrecks from the Byzantine Period


TÜRKMENOĞLU E., Davis D.

Heritage, vol.9, no.6, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 9 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/heritage9060216
  • Journal Name: Heritage
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Index Islamicus, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
  • Keywords: amphorae, Byzantium, deep sea research, maritime trade
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study examines three Byzantine-period amphora carriers (Knidos F, L, and N) discovered off the coast of Knidos within the context of Eastern Mediterranean maritime trade. The research is based on deep-water surveys conducted by ROVs from the E/V Nautilus, combined with seabed mapping and typological analysis of amphora assemblages. The Knidos F and L wrecks carried predominantly Günsenin Type I amphorae and date to the 10th–12th centuries, reflecting the revival of Byzantine maritime commerce. Knidos N represents a later, likely 13th-century context with a distinct amphora assemblage. Together, these wrecks highlight the continued commercial significance of the Carian maritime corridor in Byzantine shipping networks.