March 5, 1996
Carmen Ramos Chandler,
Director of News and Information,
(818) 885-2130
Bass, founder of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University, will lecture on the shipwreck and its treasures at 7 p.m. in the University Student Union Grand Salon located off Lindley Avenue in the center of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.
The wreck, discovered at Ulu Burun, Turkey, is considered to be one of the most important Late Bronze Age sites ever excavated in the east Mediterranean. Among its treasures were the first royal gold scarab ever found of Egypt's most famous queen, Nefertiti, and the oldest wooden writing tablet.
The ship's cargo includes 10 tons of copper ingots, a ton of tin ingots, logs of common and exotic woods, elephant and hippopotamus ivory, Baltic amber, bronze and stone weapons, blue and turquoise glass ingots, Caananite jewelry, and pottery from Greece, Cyprus and the Near East.
Bass' efforts to excavate the archaeological treasure have been featured in National Geographic and in a one-hour Nova program for public television.
His visit to Cal State Northridge is sponsored by the university's Distinguished Visiting Speakers Program and the School of Social and Behavioral Science.