Interesting Headlines of March 2010

Thousands of ships have taken to the seas in history, but not all of them were able to make it home. Many became shipwrecked, plunging a wealth of “buried treasure” and past facts under the seas and oceans. In this article, you will learn where a multitude of sunken ships have now resurfaced after a gas company attempted to build an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany.

Shipwrecks Discovered

A gas company building an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany has made an exciting discovery in the Baltic Sea , about 12 shipwrecks dating back centuries. A representative of the Sweden’s National Heritage Board estimates that the oldest wreck most likely dates back to medieval days and is probably up to 800 years old. Other specimens probably represent between the 17th and 19th centuries.

Only pictures of the exterior have been looked at, but the majority of the shipwrecks are thought fully intact and looked to have survived well over the years. When wars raged during the 20th century, thousands of medieval ships and warships fell to the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Luckily, the ships have not been plagued by the worm noted to cause destruction in wrecks built out of wood that succumb to the salty condition of the oceans.

The most famous of the Swedish discoveries was the royal warship named Vasa, which is now found in a Stockholm museum. The exterior was elaborate and one of the most popular features that visitors come to see is the carved lions with their exquisite detail , found in the teeth of the beasts. The Vasa was pulled out of the Stockholm harbor in 1961 , 333 years after it sank.

 

Already, Swedish marine archaeologists are pleased with the find. After analyzing photos of the wrecks, they assessed the value of the ships as being historically important. Details will come to light as to how everyday life unfolded for people that lived during the time period. The construction of the pipeline will not harm the wrecks, as they are not exactly in the way of the planned route. Experts will send divers to investigate the ships , a project that will involve advanced technology and cost a great deal of money to complete.

Other interesting headlines of March 2010 that involve history and archeology include:

·    In South Africa, a collection of ostrich eggshells with geometric patterns etched on their exterior has been discovered. The eggshells are thought to date back 60,000 years , providing a grand example of human symbolism and art in ancient Africa.

·    A highway construction project has led to the discovery of prehistoric artifacts, as well as a Wild West town in Sandpoint, Idaho dating back to the late 19th century. Details of the old town include a saloon, brothel, jeweler, blacksmith and courthouse jail.

·    An archeologist working with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences stated that the majority of the terracotta horses (600 in total) discovered in the tomb of Qinshihuang were modeled after geldings.