Shipwrecks are as fascinating as they are terrifying. It’s just fascinating when you think about a ship lost at sea. Full of different treasures and secrets, it holds stories from another time. Who knows how many of them have happened to this day?
Nobody can ever know for sure. But they can all be considered as a time capsule just waiting for the right moment to be discovered and explored. There’s just something mysterious about shipwrecks and our obsession with them.
Many of us wonder how things happened back then and how we can explore them at this time. So that’s why we are here. We’ll talk about some of the most important and interesting facts about shipwrecks that every one of us needs to know. Let’s start.
Why Are We Attracted to Shipwrecks?
We people tend to care and obsess over things that are pure mystery to us. That’s why we are also so enchanted by shipwrecks. Because they are packed with history. Every shipwreck has its own unique story. Some of them happened on a stormy night and became a tragic tale. Others were the result of battles at sea, and some were just carrying precious cargo that never got to their final destination. These unconfirmed facts make us wonder how people lived before us. How did they live, what did they do, and how did they get in the position to find themselves in a shipwreck? We realize that even centuries ago, people traveled, traded, and had their adventures. Also, some people are thrilled by the idea that they might discover a treasure. Different items can be found in shipwrecks, and they all tell their own story. There’s a story about a shipwreck coin jewelry that you might have heard of. Some shipwrecks are filled with coins that have been underwater for many years. They can be salvaged, cleaned, and turned into precious pieces of jewelry. People love them because they get the feeling that they are always carrying a piece of history with them.
What’s the Science Behind Shipwrecks?
People decide to start exploring shipwrecks for many different reasons, not just to find treasure. It’s a real science treasure that not many people have the chance to explore. There’s a whole science that deals with this topic. It’s called marine archaeology. It was made to discover ancient shipbuilding techniques and trade routes they used and to go deep into the sailors’ daily lives. They examine the remains of a ship. Then they piece together how the ship was constructed, what it was carrying, and why it sank. These facts can answer many questions that people these days have about shipwrecks. Exploring all of these things is not easy at all. It’s impossible to discover every part of the ocean. Many wrecks are buried deep under many layers of sand and coral. Even if they find wrecks, these parts can be changed. Saltwater can cause metal corrosion and wood to break down, and it’s really difficult to preserve what’s left. This is why modern technology is really important for shipwreck exploration. Some tools can be used to map and explore wrecks without disturbing them too much. These are underwater drones, sonar, and remotely operated vehicles.
Some of the Famous Shipwrecks
When we say shipwrecks, the Titanic is the first one that comes to everyone’s mind. It was considered an unsinkable ship. Unfortunately, it hit an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage in 1912. You can hear the story of the Titanic everywhere: in books, movies, and documentaries. The exploration of the Titanic and its wrecks is still ongoing. It started in 1985, and it’s still a mystery to this day. Another one worth mentioning is the Mary Rose. It was a warship from the Tudor era. It sank in 1545. The scientists rediscovered the ship in the 1970s and raised it from the bottom of the sea in 1982. There is a famous museum in Portsmouth, England, that you can visit today and have a look at all the artifacts that were recovered from the wreck. You can see weapons, clothing, and even some of the remains of the crew. And, of course, there are Spanish galleons. They sank while carrying gold, silver, and other treasures from the New World. The wrecks have been found on the coast of Florida and the Caribbean. They found some incredible things, from gold coins to emeralds.
How Ethical are Explorations?
Things are not as simple as they sound. Yes, shipwrecks are fascinating to everyone, but some ethical rules must be followed. They are part of cultural heritage, and the exploration must be done with respect. Scientists can’t just go to the ocean’s bottom and take whatever they want. Many countries have laws that protect these shipwrecks. If someone comes up and removes artifacts without any permission, it can lead to many legal issues. Many people also wonder who the real owner of those shipwrecks is. There’s no easy answer to that question. It’s not quite the possession of the country from where the ship originated or even the country whose waters it is in. UNESCO has created some guidelines that should help in making sure shipwrecks are explored responsibly. Everyone would love to see these legendary pieces of history or to learn from them. But we must be careful. These are unique and precious treasures that we must do our best to protect. After all, many generations after us will get the chance to learn about them all over again and to become amazed by them as much as we all are.
We don’t like to talk about shipwrecks just as some ordinary sunken ships. They are something much more special. We see them as a window into the past. They offer us a chance to see history itself and learn about it. Shipwrecks can connect us with people who lived before us. We will always wonder about the mystery of the ocean because of it. The next time someone mentions shipwrecks, think about what stories happened behind them. They could be traveling to some interesting destinations or carrying some amazing things with them. There’s always something to learn from them. They remind us of our shared human history, and because of that, they should always be explored with respect.