A huge anchor from the Crimean War was discovered in the Gulf of Tsarevo.
It was removed by divers and, according to experts, is one of the largest discovered not only in the Black Sea, but also in the Mediterranean. The municipality plans to leave it at the port after restoration. But according to underwater archaeologists, in Tsarevo they rushed the removal and this puts the find at risk.
Among the car tires that fell from the boats in the Gulf of Tsarevo, it is simply incredible to come across such a discovery. That's why the diver had a hard time believing his eyes.
Emil Bachev, diver: "As soon as I saw it, I decided that it would be much better to pull this anchor out and make it available to Tsarevo, to the town, to the people."
Emil shared his discovery with the director of the local museum and the municipality, and they encouraged him. But even pulling it out from 9 meters deep is a challenge.
Emil Bachev, diver: "At first, I managed to estimate that it weighed about 3 tons. Then, when we started to lift it with parachutes for 3 tons, there was no accident."
Experts believe that the anchor is from the 19th century, from the time of the Crimean War, when many English ships sailed in the Black Sea. It is of the "Parker" type and it is certainly not Russian.
Dr. Atanas Orachev, curator of the Anchor Museum, Ahtopol: "I am almost sure that it is the largest discovered in the Black Sea, and also in the Mediterranean Sea. Ideal shape, very good iron, while the Russian iron is a little different".
The English merchant ship probably took shelter from the bad weather in the only calmer bay on the Strandja coast and dropped anchor.
Dr. Atanas Orachev, curator of the Anchor Museum, Ahtopol: "Due to the specifics of the coast and the wind rose, a big storm suddenly came and they quickly tore the anchor."
For nearly 200 years at the bottom, it was preserved covered in silt. Now it will adorn the port, and the municipality is committed to its restoration.
Deniz Dikhanov, Deputy Mayor of Tsarevo: "Once we know what is required, what is the technology to achieve it, we will be able to assess."
According to underwater archaeology experts, the removal of the anchor was hasty, and the restoration should have begun immediately.
Senior Asst. Dr. Naiden Prahov, Head of the Center for Underwater Archaeology: "Otherwise it will soon begin to disintegrate, to degrade. Since it contains absorbed salts, when it dries, they crystallize, which leads to irreversible destruction of this anchor."
Any object that has been at the bottom for more than 100 years is, according to the UNESCO convention, a cultural asset and its extraction must be coordinated with many institutions, and an archaeological survey must be carried out.
Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Naiden Prahov, Head of the Center for Underwater Archaeology: "The moment it is extracted, the context of its discovery and where it lay at the bottom is lost, so this is lost information."
The best thing for such objects is to leave them at the bottom, in their context - as UNESCO recommends.