Abstract
Recent work undertaken by the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project in the territorial waters of Bulgaria, uncovered 37 Ottoman-Period shipwrecks, demonstrating the high density of seafaring activities in the Black Sea. Though the finds are important in understanding Ottoman seafaring technology, they provide little information about life on board. The Kitten shipwreck remains the sole fully excavated nautical site of this period in the Black Sea. This article discusses artifacts found on board this late eighteenth- early nineteenth-century shipwreck, excavated on the southern Bulgarian coast. The finds offer insights into shipboard life, the religious background of the crew, and support historical references to the family nature of seafaring ventures.
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Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, Mr. John de Lapa, the RPM Nautical Foundation and National Geographic Council for Exploration for their generous support of the Kitten shipwreck excavation. A big Thank you is also due to the Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol, Bulgaria and more specifically to its then Director, the late Ms. Hristina Angelova, to Prof. Kalin Porozhanov, initial discoverer of the shipwreck and co-director of the joint project. The authors are grateful to Dr. Kalin Dimitrov for his support and encouragement for this article.
The authors would like to thank Prof. Diana Gergova and the Director of the Sozopol Museum of Archaeology, Dimitar Nedev for sharing material from their collections. They also thank the numismatist Plamen Bonev for his help in identifying the para coin.
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Appendix
Appendix
CATALOGUE
Pottery
KT1. Pitcher. Completely preserved. The shape of the body is a truncated ovoid, the neck is hyperboloid, and the mouth is double-pinched, resembling the Fig. 8. The outer surface is uncoated; after firing it has acquired color 2.5YR 6/8 (light red). Decoration - incised pits arranged in a horizontal line 8.9 cm below the mouth.
Height – 38.3 cm; mouth – 8 x 4.4 cm; max. diameter 15.8 cm; diam. bottom – 12.2 cm; handle width – 3.1 cm.
KT2. Pitcher. Completely preserved. The shape of the body is a truncated ovoid, the neck is hyperboloid, and the mouth is double-pinched, resembling the Fig. 8. The outer surface is uncoated. As a result of the long stay on the seabed, it is covered with dense limestone deposits and its color cannot be determined. Decoration - two horizontal incised lines 10.2 cm below the mouth.
Height – 25.8 cm; mouth – 6.6 x 3.3 cm; max. diameter – 15.6 cm; diam. bottom – 10.3 cm; handle width – 2.6 cm.
KT3. Pitcher. Completely preserved. The shape of the body is a truncated ovoid, the neck is hyperboloid, and the mouth is double-pinched, resembling the Fig. 8. Three quarters of the outer surface upper part is covered with a brown glaze, and the lower quarter is uncoated, after firing acquiring color 10YR 7/4 (very pale brown).
Height – 16.5 cm; mouth – 5.5 x 2.0 cm; max. diameter – 9.3 cm; diam. bottom – 7.2 cm; handle width – 1.7 cm.
KT4. Pitcher. The handle is missing. The shape of the body is a truncated ovoid, the neck is hyperboloid, and the mouth is double-pinched, resembling the Fig. 8. Three quarters of the outer surface upper part is covered with a brown glaze, and the lower quarter is uncoated, after firing colored 5Y8/ 4 (pink). Decoration - two horizontal incised lines 6.7 and 8 cm below the mouth.
Height – 27 cm; mouth – 6.9 x 4.4 cm; max. diameter – 14.6 cm; diam. bottom – 11 cm.
KT5. Pitcher. The mouth is missing. The shape of the body is a truncated ovoid, the neck is hyperboloid. The clay is well purified, evenly fired, colored 10YR 8/1 (white). Three quarters of the outer surface upper part is covered with a green glaze, and the lower quarter remained uncoated, after firing colored 10YR 8/6 (yellow).
Preserved height – 16.8 cm; max. diameter – 11.6 cm; diam. bottom – 9 cm; handle width – 2.1 cm.
KT6. Pitcher. Its upper part and the handle are missing. The shape of the body is a truncated ovoid. The clay contains a medium amount of sand and a lower number of small stones. It is evenly fired, colored 10YR 8/2 (white). No coating.
Preserved height – 17 cm; max. diameter – 11.2 cm; diam. bottom – 9 cm.
KT7 Cup. Completely preserved. The shape is bell-like, the pedestal is cylindrical, and the bottom is concave. Both outer and inner surfaces are coated with black slip and a transparent glaze is applied to it.
Height – 4 cm; mouth diameter – 6.6 cm; pedestal diameter – 6.6 cm.
KT8. Cup. A fragment of the bottom with part of the wall has been preserved. The clay is well purified and evenly fired acquiring color 10YR 8/2 (white). Both outer and inner surfaces are heavily damaged. The decoration is incised and painted covering both sides of the cup. Outer surface - incised diagonal intersecting lines that form rhombuses filled with cobalt blue. Over them a stylized plant is depicted by a black outline as some of its leaves are painted in green and between them, on both sides of the stem – stylized blossoms or fruits are added by red dots. Inner surface - on the bottom two concentric circles are presented in blue and the inner circle contains floral decoration similar to the one on the outer side.
Preserved height – 2.7 cm; bottom diameter – ca. 5 cm.
KT9. Dish. Completely preserved. The mouth is shaped as an inverted truncated cone, the body - a hemisphere, the pedestal is conical and the bottom - concave. Both outer and inner surfaces are covered with white slip and transparent glaze. The decoration is painted in dark gray color on the inner side of the dish. The broad rim bears two concentric circles and diagonal intersecting lines resembling a net are drawn in four places between them. Two concentric rectangles are drawn on the bottom; the inner one contains a cross around which and on the edge of the outer rectangle stylized petals are added.
Height – 4.9 cm; mouth diameter – 24.5 cm; bottom diameter – 15.3 cm
KT10. Dish. A fragment of the mouth with a part of the wall has been preserved. The clay is well purified and evenly fired acquiring color 5YR 7/8 (reddish yellow). Both outer and inner surfaces are covered with white slip and transparent glaze. The decoration is painted in dark gray color on the inner side of the dish. The broad rim bears two concentric circles with spots resembling drops between them.
Preserved height – 3.2 cm; probable diameter – ca. 19 cm.
Pipes and smoking accessories
KT11. Tobacco pipe. Completely preserved. The mouth of the bowl is shaped as an octagonal prism lying on a flattened hemisphere with vertical flutes. The shank is of an octagonal section, the lip is conical, with six elliptical facets. Outer surface – heavily damaged, and after firing acquired color 10YR 8/3 (very pale brown). The decoration is incised covering the walls of the mouth. It represents stylized floral patterns.
The lower side of the shrank bears a manufacturer’s seal and inscription in Arabic –possibly reading [Şhaşan] Shashan. Probably this is a name.
Height – 3.1 cm; length – 5.8 cm; mouth’s rim diameter – 3.1 cm; lip’s rim diameter – 1.7 cm.
KT12. Tobacco pipe. Fragmented. The mouth of the bowl is shaped as a hyperboloid lying on a hemisphere with vertical flutes, the shank is circular in section, and the lip is biconical. The clay is well purified and unevenly fired. The outer parts of the fracture are of color 7.5YR 6/4 (light brown), and in the middle - 5YR 5/1 (gray). The outer surface is damaged, and after firing acquired color 10YR 8/4 (very pale brown). The decoration is geometric and incised. Two horizontal lines are running along the bowl’s rim and a single line composed of triangles has been made by a gear-wheel along the lip of the shank.
Height – 2.9 cm; length – 5.7 cm; diameter of the shank lip – 1.6 cm.
KT13. Tobacco pipe. Fragmented bowl’s rim, the shank is missing. The mouth of the bowl is shaped as an octagonal prism lying on a flattened hemisphere, richly decorated with incised and embossed decoration. The clay is well purified and evenly fired acquiring color 7.5YR 7/4 (pink). Outer surface – burnished, and after firing acquired color 10YR 8/3 (very pale brown). Decoration – embossed and incised. The embossed patterns cover the base of the bowl composed of a line demarcating both elements of the bowl (mouth and base), and vertical ellipses over the entire surface of the base. The incised decoration represents stylized floral patterns covering the walls of the mouth’s prism. The lower side of the bowl’s base and the shank bear two manufacturer’s seals with identical inscriptions in Arabic possibly reading [Şhaşan] Shashan. It appears to be a family name, known in Turkey to the present day.
Preserved height – 3.5 cm; preserved length – 4.1 cm.
KT14. Tobacco pipe. The shank is missing. The mouth of the bowl has a cylindrical shape that smoothly passes into a hemisphere to the bowl’s base. The clay has high mica content; it is evenly fired acquiring color 10YR 8/4 (very pale brown). The outer surface is heavily damaged and after firing acquired color 10YR 8/4 (very pale brown). The decoration is incised, geometric, depicting a stylized plant of three rhombuses, applied on the front of the bowl. Immediately below them are four continuous and two broken lines drawn with a gear-wheel, which, expanding, descend and emphasize the connection between the base of the bowl and the shank.
Preserved height – 4.1 cm; preserved length – 3.5 cm.
KT15. Tobacco pipe. The mouth is missing. The bowl’s base is biconical, the shank is of a circular section, and the lip is shaped as a truncated cone. The clay is well purified and unevenly fired, the outer parts of the fracture are of color 10Y 7/4 (very pale brown), in the middle – 10Y 7/1 (light gray). The outer surface is heavily damaged, and after firing acquired color 10Y 7/4 (very pale brown). The decoration is incised, geometric, composed of three broken lines made with gear-wheel; two of them are running along the shank and one – right below the bowl’s rim. Horizontal flutes cover the entire base of the bowl. The shank bears a manufacturer’s seal – a stylized flower resembling a daisy.
Preserved height – 2.9 cm; preserved length – 5.7 cm.
KT16. Tobacco pipe. The bowl is missing. The shank is of a circular section and biconical lip. The clay is well purified and evenly fired acquiring color 10YR 8/3 (very pale brown). The outer surface is covered with slip in color 10R 5/6 (red). Decoration – incised, geometric, composed of three broken lines made by a gear-wheel. Two of them are running along the base of the lip and two – along the bowl’s base.
Preserved height – 2.2 cm; preserved length – 4.6 cm.
KT17. Ivory mouthpiece. Length – 3.2 cm; max. diameter – 1.4 cm. Hourglass-shaped ivory mouthpiece. Although in the same layer and vicinity with other smoking finds, no stem or pipe can positively be associated with it.
KT18. Amber mouthpiece. Length – 3.1 cm; max. diameter – 1.9 cm. Pear-shaped in cross section KT18 was found attached to the stem KT19.
KT19. Stem. A roughly shaped cherry or sour cherry branch with rammed-through soft heartwood. Still has its bark. The only decoration is a narrow silver-plated copper strip (50 mm) around the mouthpiece end. Length – 68.0 cm; diameter – 1.5 cm.
Other ceramic and glass objects
KT20. Ink pot. Completely preserved. The shape of the body is ovoid, the mouth and the pedestal are cylindrical, and the bottom is almost flat. The outer surface is covered with slip in color 10YR 6/3 (pale brown) and transparent glaze.
Height – 4.2 cm; mouth diameter – 2.8 cm; max. diameter – 5 cm; bottom diameter – 2.8 cm.
KT21. Ink pot. Completely preserved. The base of the body is shaped as a truncated ovoid turning into a hyperboloid towards the mouth, the pedestal is cylindrical and the bottom is concave. The outer surface is of color white page 10 YR 1/9.5 (white) covered with transparent but well preserved glaze. As a decoration, a horizontal line of manganese oxide is applied to the base of the hyperboloid part of the body.
Height – 4.4 cm; mouth diameter – 2.8 cm; max. diameter – 5.8 cm; bottom diameter 3.2 cm.
KT22. Glass bottle. Height – 13.9 cm; width – 5.5 cm; rim diameter – 2.3 cm
KT23. Glass cup with handle. It was found in the upper most layer of the site, so theoretically it may not be from this wreck. There are three more shipwrecks in the immediate vicinity of the excavated one. The cup is Multi-walled, with the handle made from a separate piece of glass.
Height – 14.9 cm; bottom diameter – 4.6 cm; rim diameter – 5.7 cm.
Copper Utensils
KT24. Jug with a lid. Completely preserved. The lid is shaped as a hemisphere. The upper part of the pitcher’s body is shaped as an inverted truncated cone, and the lower one - as an ovoid. The bottom is flat. A handle is attached to the pitcher by means of rivets. Incised horizontal lines decorate the outer surface of the vessel.
Preserved height – 21.1 cm; mouth diameter – 9.4 cm; bottom diameter – 13.0 cm.
KT25. Deep copper bowl. Completely preserved. The shape of the body is cylindrical and passes to the bottom into an inverted truncated cone. It lies upon a low conical pedestal. Vertical relief flutes decorate the walls.
Height – 11.3 cm; mouth diameter – 16.1 cm; bottom diameter – 7.7 cm; pedestal diameter – 8.2 cm.
KT26. Copper dish. Completely preserved. The vessel is shaped as an inverted truncated cone over a low conical pedestal. The rim is curved outward. Incised horizontal lines decorate the inner side of the bottom. Three such dishes were found.
Height – 3.2 cm; mouth diameter – 20.8 cm; bottom diameter – 15.9 cm; pedestal diameter – 12.4 cm.
KT27. Copper dish. Completely preserved. The vessel is shaped as an inverted truncated cone over a low conical pedestal. The rim is curved outward. Incised horizontal lines decorate the inner side of the bottom. Three such dishes were found.
Height – 3.2 cm; mouth diameter – 20.8 cm; bottom diameter – 15.9 cm; pedestal diameter – 12.4 cm.
KT28. Copper dish. Completely preserved. The vessel is shaped as an inverted truncated cone over a low conical pedestal. The rim is curved outward. Incised horizontal lines decorate the inner side of the bottom. Three such dishes were found.
Height – 3.2 cm; mouth diameter – 20.8 cm; bottom diameter – 15.9 cm; pedestal diameter – 12.4 cm.
KT29. A shallow, thin copper plate. It has a narrow base, widening into a broad straight rim. Low conical base. Decoration consists of incised concentric circles as on all other copper vessels found on the wreck.
Maximum diameter - 27.3 cm, inner bottom diameter – 17.0 cm, wide rim - 5.0 cm ; thickness -0.1 cm.
KT30. A shallow, thin copper plate. It has a narrow base, widening into a broad straight rim. Low conical base. Decoration consists of incised concentric circles as on all other copper vessels found on the wreck.
Maximum diameter - 27.3 cm; inner bottom diameter – 17.0 cm, wide rim - 5.0 cm; thickness - 0.1 cm.
KT31. A shallow, thin copper plate. It has a narrow base, widening into a broad straight rim. Low conical base. Decoration consists of incised concentric circles as on all other copper vessels found on the wreck.
Maximum diameter - 27.3 cm, inner bottom diameter – 17.0 cm, wide rim - 5.0 cm; thickness - 0.1 cm. KT32. Cauldron. Completely preserved. The shape is conical upon a flat bottom. Incised horizontal lines decorate the outer side of the vessel.
Height – 13.5 cm; mouth diameter – 11.0 cm; bottom diameter – 25.4 cm.
KT33. Tava - cooking vessel. Hinged thick handles of a square cross-section are attached to both opposite sides. Diameter – 24.1 cm; diameter of bottom – 21.7; height – 6.0 cm.
KT34. Basin with a lid. Completely preserved. The shape of the lever resembles a hyperboloid. The bottom is flat. The lid is intricately profiled. The handle is shaped as a cone, which passes into a cylinder, in its widest section turns into an ovoid, and at the base ends as a cone.
Lever dimensions: height – 10.5 cm; mouth diameter – 35.5 cm; bottom diameter – 20.1 cm.
Lid dimensions: height – 5.4 cm; diameter at the base – 21.0 cm.
KT35. Siniya - serving tray. Diameter – 49.0 cm; height – 1.7 cm.
KT36. Brazier. Completely preserved. The shape resembles a hyperboloid made of two parts. The upper one (firebox) is attached to the lower one (pedestal) by means of rivets. Hinged thick handles of a square cross-section are attached to both opposite sides.
Height – 20.0 cm; mouth diameter – 43.0 cm; diameter of bowl – 27.0 cm bottom diameter – 16.2 cm; diameter of the pedestal base – 29.1 cm.
Other metal objects
KT37. Bell. The clapper is missing. The shape resembles a cone. A solid support part is attached to the bell upper sector for hanging to a hoop.
Height – 14.4 cm; base diameter – 4.1 x 4.9 cm.
KT38. Candlestick. Completely preserved. Composed of two elements. The upper one is fixed to the lower one by means of a screw.
Height – 16.8 cm; diam. of the base – 14.7 cm.
Carved wooden plaques
KT39A. Fragment of a plaque with carved St. Andrew cross. The spaces between the arms of the cross are completely cut through, which suggests that it was intended to stand free – possibly part of an iconostas. The wood is likely plantan. Approximate dimensions of about 80 x 100 mm
KT39B. Fragment of a plaque similar to KT39A. It may well have been part of the same iconostas or decoration, as it is identical in style as KT34A.The fragment is approximately quarter the dimensions of KT39A: 25 x about 20 mm.
KT40. A carved and gilded wooden plaque, with remnants of a carved pin for rotation at one end of it. This and the double-sided carving suggests that this may have been part of an opening triptych; probably an iconostas. One of the faces has a round, regular indentation carved into the wood, which likely held a cameo or miniature icon.
Preserved dimensions: length – 20.5 mm; width - 10.5 mm; thick - 8.5 mm.
KT41A. KT41 A, B and C are likely fragments of the same larger panel, as they are made of the same wood and are incised in identical style. KT41A is preserved to a length of about 175 mm and width of 70 mm.
KT41B. Fragment of incised plaque. The decoration is cut into both sides and consists of cross inscribed in a rectangle with concave sides, inscribed into a circle. Two of the corners are truncated. The dimensions of the fragment are approximately 100-110 mm by about 120 mm.
KT41C. The incised decoration is identical to the one on KT41B: A cross inscribed in a rectangle with concave sides, inscribed into a circle. Dimensions 102 x 94 mm.
Other wooden objects
KT42. Wooden spoon. Length – 23.5 cm
KT43. Wooden spoon. Length – 23.2 cm
KT44. Wooden spoon. Length – 22.5 cm
KT45. Wooden spoon. Length – 23.5 cm
KT46. Wooden spoon. Length – 22.6 cm
KT47. Wooden spoon. Length – 21.8 cm
KT48. Wooden spoon. Length – 21.6 cm
KT49. Wooden spoon. Length – 21.9 cm
KT50. Wooden spoon. Length – 22.3 cm
KT51. Wooden spoon. Length – 21.7 cm
KT52. Wooden spoon. Length – 22.0 cm
KT53. Wooden spoon. Length – 21.6 cm
KT54. Wooden spoon. Length – 21.5 cm
KT55. Wooden spoon. Length – 20.5 cm
KT56. Wooden spoon. Length – 22.5 cm
KT57. Wooden spoon. Length – 21.8 cm
KT58. Wooden spoon. Length – 22.0 cm
KT59. Wooden scoop. Length – 22.0 cm; width - 13.1 cm
KT60. Cask. Small cask with the typical biconical shape. The wooden staves are bound with four iron hoops. One of the staves has an opening which was sealed with a roughly cut small stick. Height - 27.5 cm; maximum diameter – 15.6 cm; minimum diameter – 12.6 cm
Personal effects
KT61. Earring. Height - 3.0 cm. Brass.
KT62. Pendant or earring. Silver. Preserved height - 2.5 cm
KT63. Decorative pin. Length – 4.3 cm
KT64. Decorative pin. Length – 4.8 cm
KT65. Decorative pin. Length – 5.2 cm
KT66. Comb. Height – 4.4 cm; width - 7.2 cm. Wood
KT67. Comb. Height – 6.3 cm; width - 8.3 cm. Wood
KT68. Leather sole from a child’s tzarvul (moccasin-type shoe).
Preserved length - 11.2 cm, preserved width – 7.0 cm
KT69. leather tzarvul (men`s shoe). Preserved is only the upper part of the tzarvul.
Length – 26.9 cm; width – 12.5 cm
KT70. leather tzarvul (men`s shoe). Preserved is only front upper part of tzarvul.
Preserved length - 15.0 cm, preserved width – 12.7 cm
Miscellaneous Finds
KT71. Token. On the obverse is a setting sun with rays and stars above it. Along the periphery is inscribed Iohann Christian Reich RE. P.F. On the reverse is depicted a stylized double-ended 3-masted ship, surrounded by the motto MIT GLUCK. RE. P.F. for Rechen Pfennig Fecit. 13 mm diameter.
KT72. Token. This example has an irregular shape and was struck slightly off center of the brass blank. On the reverse of the token is depicted a ship, viewed from the port quarter. It is surrounded by the motto Plus Ultra (Further Beyond) of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (1500-58 AD). The obverse contains a sun face, moon and stars. Around the periphery is inscribed E. L. S. Lauer RECHEN PF Dimensions 11 mm along the shorter axis and 13 mm along the long one.
KT73. Coin. Heavily eroded and hard to identify. Based on comparisons with the thugras of Ottoman coins, it appears to have been struck in the reign of Sultan Selim III (1789-1808). It seems to be a product of the Egyptian mint, as Misr – Egypt – appears on the coin. Approximate diameter 11.5-13 mm
KT74. Marble mortar. Height – 22.0 cm; diameter of the rim – 21.0 cm
Navigational equipment
KT75. Lens from an ocular (probably part of an octant or sextant). The lenses (KT75 and KT76) wereheld in place by KT077 and its twin, which collapsed in conservation.
Diameter – 2.75 cm
KT76. Lens from an ocular (probably part of an octant or sextant). The lens held in place by KT077 and its twin, which collapsed in conservation.
Diameter – 2.75 cm
KT77. Rim from an ocular or telescope for a navigational instrument such as an octant or sextant. Heavily deformed as result of conservation. As originally found, it was circular, with clearly defined thread cut into it for screwing into a tube.
Diameter – 2.25 cm
KT78. Mirror from a navigational instrument. Although the silvering is peeling, originally it was completely covered, identifying the object as index mirror from an octant or sextant.
Length – 5.3 cm; width – 3.05 cm
Tiles
KT79. Ceramic tile. Fully preserved. Side length 15 x 15 cm; thick 2.3 cm
KT80. Ceramic tile. Fully preserved. Side length 15 x 15 cm; thick 2.3 cm
KT81. Ceramic tile. Broken. Side length 15 cm; thick 2.3 cm
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Batchvarov, K., Todorov, V. Seafaring along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast in the Ottoman Period, Based on the Finds from the Late Eighteenth- Early Nineteenth-Century Kitten Shipwreck. Int J Histor Archaeol 26, 1072–1109 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-021-00641-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-021-00641-4