Learning about Ancient Glass: Underwater Archeology
Between 1984 and 1994 the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) excavated the remains of a Late Bronze Age shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship’s cargo consisted primarily of raw materials, including glass.
View Underwater Archeology video (WMV)
View Underwater Archeology video (iPod video)
Underwater Archeology Student Activity
1) Watch the Underwater Archeology video and listen carefully for the answers to the following questions.
- Where was the shipwreck found?
- How old was the shipwreck?
- What did the archeologists do before they removed the objects?
- What was included in the ship’s cargo?
- How would the ingots of glass be used?
- How do we know what ingredients were used to make glass in the ancient Near
East?
- List 4 ways glass scholars have learned about glass of the ancient world.
Check your answers here
2) Dig deeper: Visit the Institute of Nautical Archaeology website to learn more about this underwater excavation.
- Exactly where was the shipwreck located?
- In addition to the materials mentioned in the video, what specific artifacts
were found and what do they tell us about the cultures of that time?