TEHRAN -- Archaeologists from the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, Italy, along with the Underwater Archaeology Faculty in Tehran, have detailed the findings from the excavation of a wooden shipwreck along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran, Iran. 
Analysis of radiocarbon-dated wood samples and plant remains indicated the vessel most likely dates to the late 18th century or early 19th century.
Iranian coastal areas along the Caspian Sea have experienced rising and falling sea levels driven by climate variability, exposing cultural artifacts and shipwrecks. Archaeologists discovered the 28-meter-long wreck after rising sea levels eroded part of the three-meter sand dune it was hiding in.
The Caspian Sea is surrounded by five countries that have long used it as an important trading route. The ship, believed to be a three-masted vessel, was likely abandoned in the late 18th or early 19th century. Over two seasons, excavations uncovered structural elements of the hull, masts, and remnants of its cargo, offering researchers vital clues as to its possible origin through cargo composition and construction practices.
In the study, “The Shipwreck of Zaghemarz, Mazandaran, Iran: Archaeology, Archaeobotany and Absolute Dating of an Eighteenth-Century Vessel of the Caspian Sea,” published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology, researchers detail multiple findings that align with Russian shipbuilding practices in the Caspian during the 18th century.
Building a temporary sandbag barrier against wave erosion allowed careful excavation of the site. Stratigraphic layers were documented, revealing 43 sedimentary layers that documented its burial over centuries. Waterlogged wood samples underwent thin-section and environmental scanning electron microscopy for species identification.
Radiocarbon dating was conducted on three wood samples and buckwheat seeds from a basket found in the ship’s lowest compartment to model the ship’s likely construction, repair, and wrecking timelines. Botanical remains were processed through water sieving and examined under microscopes to identify species.
Analyses showed that structural elements contained Scots Pine and Spruce/Larch wood, indicating possible sourcing from the Volga basin region or the Caucasus. A poplar wood tool was also recovered.
Radiocarbon dating of the hull’s pine wood samples placed the initial construction no earlier than the late 18th century, suggesting the ship was constructed between 1762 and 1808 with additional repairs inferred from younger spruce/larch timbers. Buckwheat seeds dated within a broad range stretching to the early 20th century, matching the ship’s final period of use.
Archaeobotanical analysis identified six plant families in the ship’s cargo, with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) forming the majority of recovered remains. The well-preserved triangular achenes, found in three wicker baskets, were determined to originate from cultivation regions near the Volga River basin or the Caucasus. Associated weeds, including lambs quarters (Chenopodium album) and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), were also identified, reflecting agricultural practices in the region.
Combined with wood sample dates, researchers concluded that the vessel served as part of a merchant fleet operating in the Caspian Sea under Russian influence. The predominance of buckwheat in its cargo supports historical accounts of its use as a staple food for sailors and trade goods in the Caspian maritime economy.