Sailing the Hellenistic Aegean: A Social Archaeology of Shipwrecks

Nicole Constantine conducted museum research in Greece focusing on pottery and metal vessels from the Antikythera shipwreck to study the daily lives of Mediterranean sailors during the Hellenistic period. The research concentrated on galley wares, examining what these objects reveal about food preparation, dining, and drinking aboard ships. Material was recovered through efforts involving sponge divers in 1901 and a return trip led by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s.
The study of the galley wares indicated that plates and bowls appeared to originate from a single workshop, suggesting sailors were outfitted with matched dining sets rather than supplying individual mess kits. The preservation of some dishes suggests the galley may have been recently restocked at the time of the wreck. Fragmentary sherds also indicated older wares broken into the ship structure. Further analysis of use-wear on metal items, such as a bronze jug used for pouring wine, revealed numerous patches indicating careful treatment by the crew. The findings demonstrate the multi-temporal nature of shipwrecks, as different material groups reflect older voyages contained within a single event.

* Nicole Constantine spent three weeks in Greece conducting museum research.
* The research focused on pottery and metal vessels from the Antikythera shipwreck.
* The study targeted galley wares to understand food preparation, dining, and drinking aboard ships.
* Material was raised to the surface by sponge divers in 1901.
* A return trip to the site was led by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s.
* Galley wares showed plates and bowls appeared to be from a single workshop.
* The state of some dishes suggested the galley was recently restocked at the time of the wreck.
* Fragmentary sherds indicated remnants of older galley wares that had broken into the ship structure.
* Metal patches on a bronze jug suggested careful treatment by the crew.