ウルブルン復元船がまた沈む？

世界最古の発掘された沈没船、ウルブルン（紀元前１３００年頃）の復元船がトルコで作られ航海実験が行われました。この復元には地元や地方の自治体などの協力により成功に終わりました。
この復元船を今度は海底に沈める予定があるそうです。そこでは考古学者の海底作業トレーニングを行うとのこと。また、発見された遺物などのレプリカも作るそうです。この現場にはダイビングができれば観光として作業を見学したり、沈没船を見ることができるように計画中。あまり、レプリカを海底に沈めるのは聞いたことがないので非常に面白い取り組みですね。

From Turkish Daily News
Oldest ship to sink a second time
Monday, September 4, 2006

A group of scientists has built an exact replica of a Lydian trade ship found near Kas¸ in Antalya, and will sink it to establish the first archeology park in the world.

The original ship, which sank 3,300 years ago near Uluburun, is the oldest ship found to date. The 360 Degrees Historical Research Study Group, the Kas¸ administrative office and the Kas¸ Municipality jointly built the replica. Project Coordinator Osman Erkurt said the idea had come from Kas¸ administrative official Nurullah Çakır. “It took us 40 days to build it,” he said, noting that Ankara University, Israel’s Haifa University and Texas University had helped them. The ship, 14 meters long and five meters wide, has attracted a significant amount of attention, he said. “A replica we made for the ‘The Uluburun Shipwreck and 3,000 Years of World Commerce’ exhibit in German was visited by 500,000 people during a nine-month run. Although the project cost only YTL 110,000, we found it difficult to find the money, but the local municipality and governor’s office helped us, and we are near to completing it. As part of Oct. 29, Republic Day, celebrations we will sink the ship 18 meters under water, and it will be used as a school to train underwater archeologists.” Çakır said foreign academics were closely following the developments, noting that similar projects would be initiated elsewhere around the world once the results of their efforts were published. “There is also the commercial side of the project due to the huge tourism interest it will generate. Thousands will come here to watch how underwater archeologists operate.” He said they would also be placing replicas of the artifacts found in and around the shipwreck to make it as authentic as possible. The original Uluburun shipwreck is currently on display at Bodrum Museum.

引用元：http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=53169