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Scientists have discovered a shipwreck graveyard in the depths of the Black Sea holding dozens of vessels from the Ottoman and Byzantine periods.

Archeologists have believed there was a ‘dead zone’ beneath the surface but had not yet recovered evidence proving its existence.

They were mapping submerged ancient landscapes when they accidentally uncovered the perfectly preserved wreckages.

The scientists were using high-tech underwater equipment to scour waters 1,800 metres below the surface of the Black Sea.

(Image: Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz/Southampton University) (Image: Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz/Southampton University)

The mission, known as the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project (Black Sea MAP), is being led by the University of Southampton's Centre for Maritime Archaeology.

Principle investigator Professor Jon Adams said: “The wrecks are a complete bonus, but a fascinating discovery, found during the course of our extensive geophysical surveys.

“They are astonishingly preserved due to the anoxic conditions (absence of oxygen) of the Black Sea below 150 metres.

(Image: Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz/Southampton University) (Image: Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz/Southampton University)

“Using the latest 3D recording technique for underwater structures, we've been able to capture some astonishing images without disturbing the sea bed.

“We are now among the very best exponents of this practice methodology and certainly no-one has achieved models of this completeness on shipwrecks at these depths.”

(Image: Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz/Southampton University) (Image: Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz/Southampton University) (Image: Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz/Southampton University)

The researchers are using two Remotely Operated Vehicles to scour the sea bed which will build up a set of high-resolution 3D photographs showing the discoveries.

The 40 wrecks found include ships from the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires shedding new light on the commercial activities of ancient Greece and Rome.