Rescue archaeological survey for the project of reconstruction of “Karantinata” fishing port, Asparuhovo neighbourhood, Varna

The rescue archaeological survey in Karantinata locality, Asparuhovo neighbourhood of Varna town, aimed to determine whether the implementation of the project for reconstruction of “Karantinata” fisherman port would affect underwater cultural heritage (fig. 1). The reason for conducting the study is a publication reporting that in the area there is an ancient breakwater and a shipwreck with amphorae (1964, 18 – 24, figs 12 – 21). Another breakwater is described in the same publication in the bay west of Cape Galata ( 1964, 22, fig. 14).The survey was conducted in May 2019 through geophysical research (bathymetric multibeam sonar and side-scan sonar mapping) followed by diving surveys (figs 2, 3). The data collected shows that in the area of construction of the new facilities of “Karantinata” fisherman port the bottom is sandy and without visible anomalies. The information about the ancient breakwaters and shipwreck east of the actual “Karantinata” jetty was verified by diving inspections. Only natural, irregularly shaped reef with north–south direction was recorded. The ashlar stone blocks described by G. Toncheva were not found, but it was observed that the sedimentary rocks in the area naturally split into rectangular pieces (fig. 4). Some amphorae shards as well as bricks and tile fragments were collected at the base of the scarp at a depth of 3–4 m during the diving inspection (fig. 5). The “amphorae deposits” mentioned by G. Toncheva were not located. The study regarding the project for Reconstruction of “Karantinata” Fishermen’s Port, Asparuhovo, Varna, was closed with the following conclusions: 1) There are no visible archaeological structures in the area of the investment intent and the wider water area east of it. 2) The claim of the presence of artificial ancient breakwaters in Lazuren Bryag locality (known also as “Karantinata”) and near Cape Galata should be rejected, since the observed linear stone structures are natural geological formations of the Galata Formation. 3) The archaeological materials collected in the “Karantinata” waters are too sparse and asynchronous to be recognized as a ship cargo. However, this does not exclude the possibility that the finds could mark an anchorage that had previously functioned in the area