A groundbreaking study published in the journal PLOS One has shed new light on the timeline of the ancient Kyrenia shipwreck off the coast of Cyprus. Local diver Andreas Cariolou discovered the ship nearly six decades ago, and its excavation in the late '60s by a team led by marine archaeologist Michael Katzev provided valuable insights into its cargo. However, until now, the exact time of the ship's sinking remained speculative.

The Kyrenia ship, a remarkable Greek Hellenistic-period vessel, was originally believed to have sunk around 300 BC based on pottery and coins found on board. However, without scientific dating methods, these estimates lacked concrete evidence. That is until the recent study employed the use of radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology to determine the ship's demise.

By analyzing newly cleaned wood samples from the ship, along with organic materials such as a twig, an animal bone, and a cache of ancient almonds discovered among its cargo, researchers were able to establish a more precise time frame. The team, led by Sturt Manning from Cornell University, concluded that the Kyrenia ship sank between 296 BC and 271 BC, with a high probability of occurring between 286 BC and 272 BC.

The study's lead author, Sturt Manning, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, "We got dates that are very close to those that archaeologists have been recently suggesting but just ever so slightly more recent." This updated timeline, supported by scientific data, not only provides a more accurate estimate for the Kyrenia's sinking but also introduces new techniques and revised radiocarbon calibration that can benefit researchers in dating structures and shipwrecks from the same era.

Overcoming significant obstacles in their research, the team worked to address the interference created by the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to preserve the ship's wood. PEG, while preventing deterioration, affected the accuracy of radiocarbon dating. However, the researchers successfully developed a cleaning protocol that removed the petroleum-based compound from the wood without damaging it.

The second hurdle encountered by the researchers was an outdated Northern Hemisphere international radiocarbon calibration curve for the period between 400 BC and 250 BC. To resolve this, the team recalibrated the curve using sequoia and oak samples of known age from the same period. This revised curve played a crucial role in pinpointing the accurate time frame of the Kyrenia ship's sinking and can assist researchers worldwide in dating ancient structures.

Interestingly, it was the cargo of almonds found on the ship that provided the study authors with a date estimate. Analysis of organic materials from the cargo revealed that they had likely been on the ship for approximately a year or possibly more before it sank. Drawing upon this information, the researchers were able to narrow down the estimated range of years for the ship's final voyage.

Mark Lawall, a classics professor at the University of Manitoba, commented on the significance of this research, highlighting the continuous development and refinement of scientific fields such as radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology. He also noted the valuable insight the Kyrenia shipwreck provides into the complex network of trade and cultural exchange in the ancient Mediterranean world.

With the updated time estimate, it is remarkable to see that the initial dates based on archaeological evidence were only off by a few years. The Kyrenia shipwreck not only offers a glimpse into the lives of ancient traders but also contributes to our understanding of the origins of the interconnected Mediterranean world that we know today.

As the study concludes, the advancements made in dating techniques and calibration methods will undoubtedly enhance future research on similar historical artifacts and structures, further unraveling the mysteries of our ancient past.