Researchers from Düzce University have initiated an investigation into a shipwreck discovered by an amateur fisherman in the Akçakoca district, Turkey. The discovery was made approximately eight months ago when Gürkan Gürbüz, while fishing with an underwater camera, spotted large iron remnants at a depth of six meters.
Upon informing Prof. Dr. Deniz Yağlıoğlu, head of the Biology Department, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bilir, director of the Underwater Studies Research Center, the team conducted dives in the area to gather more information.
The researchers believe the wreck is an Ottoman ship used during World War I, based on initial findings. They have applied for permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to conduct excavations around and within the wreck.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilir stated that they have encountered a metal wreck and suspect it may have sunk during World War I, particularly due to the munitions found within it. He noted that the wreck is quite significant in terms of shipbuilding technology and the potential for tourism and battlefield archaeology.
Prof. Dr. Yağlıoğlu, who has conducted biodiversity studies in the Akçakoca region for years, expressed surprise at the existence of the wreck, emphasizing that it suggests many more secrets lie beneath the Black Sea.
The team has identified intriguing data, including the possibility that the wreck could be linked to Ottoman vessels that sank on November 7, 1914, while transporting supplies to Sarıkamış. The researchers are preparing a project to conduct further investigations to uncover the historical narrative of the wreck.
They are also coordinating with experts to date the munitions found, which could provide insights into its origin and usage. Detailed excavations will shed light on the wreck's history and significance.