A German archaeologist – previously convicted of stealing from The Great Pyramid of Giza – has sailed 1,500 kilometres across three seas in a 12-tonne reed boat to prove that Ancient Egyptians used iron to build the famous world wonders.
Experimental archaeologist Dominique Goerlitz was aiming to prove that iron was collected by the Ancient Egyptians from the Caucasus region and taken to Egypt where it was used in the building of the ancient pyramids around 4,800 years ago.
Goerlitz believes tools made of iron were used by Ancient Egyptians which were transported by boat from the Caucasus region to Egypt.
He said: “Many historians and experienced sailors doubt that there was trade between these areas at this time. They believe that the reed boats were not able to travel such difficult routes.”
He has now sailed 1, 500 kilometres and started on the Black Sea in Beloslav, a small industrial town in Varna Province, in north-eastern Bulgaria and ended in the town of Kas in the Turkish Mediterranean.
Goerlitz claims that trade between people from Egypt and the Caucasus began long before current records show and he wants to use his recreated boat to show the routes were possible.
‘Abora IV’ was made according to a prehistoric model and aimed to prove that trade between the Northern Alps and the Mediterranean, 43,00 years ago during the Bronze Age, was possible.
Once the reed boat reached the Bosphorus stretch of water it was towed by the Turkish Coast Guard. This was due to no approval having been sought for the boat to sail through.
Goerlitz said: “Without our ability to sail 90 degrees to the wind, we would never have come to the Dardanelles.”
The mission was meant to start in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi, but following bureaucratic problems, especially related to customs, the plan had to be altered before the reed boat had even set off from its starting point.
The expense of the expedition was not revealed by Goerlitz.
The scientist says: “We had just enough money in order to get us there.”
The expedition was financed by sponsors and donations.
The boat will be housed in a museum in Patara, a city along the Mediterranean coast in Turkey.
Goerlitz took samples from the Pyramid of Cheops – otherwise known as The Great Pyramid of Giza – for testing in 2013 and was sentenced in absentia by Egypt to five years in prison for this.
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Story By: Victoria Lyndon, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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