Wood species of Karaburun anchors used in archaic period ships

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KOCABAŞ U., AKKEMİK Ü., Asal R.

ARCHAEOMETRY, vol.67, no.3, pp.520-535, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 67 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/arcm.13019
  • Journal Name: ARCHAEOMETRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, FRANCIS, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, L'Année philologique, Anthropological Literature, Art Source, Geobase, Index Islamicus
  • Page Numbers: pp.520-535
  • Keywords: anchor, Black Sea, Cornus sanguinea, Karaburun anchors, Laurus nobilis, Quercus ilex, Quercus sect. Quercus, waterlogged wood, wooden anchor
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Two anchors discovered at Karaburun on the Black Sea coast in 2011 are very rare examples of wooden anchors from the Archaic period. The anchors, dated to the Archaic period, measure 460.5 cm (KA1) and 502 cm (KA2) in length. The solid piece of wood used to form the body and arms of the anchors was identified as a member of the white oak group (Quercus Sect. Quercus); in addition, holm oak (Quercus ilex L.), common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea L.), and bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) were used in the manufacturing of the other elements. The anchors are believed to have originated from the Black Sea shores.