World’s Oldest Marine Navigation Tool Was A Sophisticated Astrolabe
AncientPages.com - An astrolabe was not only a very a beautiful ancient object. It was also a sophisticated very old astronomical computer especially created for solving problems relating to time and the position of the Sun and stars in the sky.
It could be used as a navigation tool or to find out how the sky looked at a specific place at a given time.
Using scanning technology, researchers from the University of Warwick have now revealed details of the world’s oldest marine navigation tool, discovered in a shipwreck.
The astrolabe is a bronze disc, which measures 17.5cm in diameter, and is engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms and the personal emblem of Don Manuel I, the King of Portugal from 1495-1521.
It is believed to date from between 1495 and 1500, and was recovered from the wreck of a Portuguese explorer ship which sank during a storm in the Indian Ocean in 1503.
The boat was called the Esmeralda and was part of a fleet led by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, the first person to sail directly from Europe to India.
Scan of the astrolabe artifact. Credit: University of Warwick
According to Professor Mark Williams, who scanned the artifact, when the team found the object, no markings were visible. They believed it was an astrolabe, but they could not see any navigational markings on it.
They then approached Professor Williams, who conducts pioneering scanning analyses in his laboratory at WMG, to reveal the artifact's invisible details.
See also:
Astrolabe: A Beautiful, Mysterious And Sophisticated Computer Of The Ancient World
Magnetic Compass Was Invented In Ancient China
The scans showed etches around the edge of the object, each separated by five degrees – proving that it is an astrolabe.
These markings would have allowed mariners to measure the height of the sun above the horizon at noon to determine their locationso they could find their way on the high seas.
The technology was able to accurately scan the item to within 0.1mm and reproduce a high-resolution 3-D model.
"It was fantastic to apply our 3-D scanning technology to such an exciting project and help with the identification of such a rare and fascinating item, Professor Williams said.
AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Knaresborough Hoard Reveals Its Secrets – Unusual Roman Discovery In The British Isles
Archaeology | Jan 12, 2024
-
The Olympics In Ancient And Modern Times – What Has Changed?
Featured Stories | Jun 20, 2019
-
King Sanakht: Mysterious Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Was A ‘Giant’ – Scientists Say
Archaeology | Aug 9, 2017
-
Statue Of Unknown Mythical Beast With Four Wings Discovered
Archaeology | Sep 1, 2022
-
Ancient Mysteries Of The Amazon Jungle – Survivors Of The Great Flood Or An Atlantean Race Hidden In The Forest? – Part 2
Civilizations | May 29, 2018
-
Ancient Mystery Of The Enigmatic ‘Cat Men’ – Advanced Prehistoric Machines Or Humanoids? – Part 2
Featured Stories | Jan 20, 2021
-
America’s Oldest City Caral Illegally Invaded And Archaeologist Threatened With Death
Archaeology | Jan 21, 2021
-
Three Punic Wars Between Rome And Carthage Lasted Almost A Hundred Years
Featured Stories | Apr 29, 2019
-
Teeth Pendants And Prominent Status Of Elks In Stone Age – New Study
Artifacts | Jan 15, 2021
-
‘Masters Of The Desert’ – Hohokam People, Massive Caliche Structures And Sophisticated Extensive Irrigation Canals
Civilizations | May 31, 2016
-
Unknown History Of Gigantic Obelisks Created With Ancient Lost Technology
Ancient Technology | Oct 8, 2017
-
Who Said ‘Eureka’ First And Why?
Ancient History Facts | Feb 8, 2023
-
How Important Was Music In Ancient Egypt?
Ancient History Facts | Jan 16, 2021
-
Roskilde 6 – Longest Viking Ship Ever Discovered Was 37-Meters Long And Carried 100 Viking Warriors
Ancient History Facts | Dec 26, 2016
-
Sunken 18th-Century British Warship HMS Tyger Found In The Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Archaeology | Mar 19, 2024
-
Neanderthal DNA Still Influence Modern Human Genes – Scientists Say
Archaeology | Mar 3, 2017
-
Digesta: An Overlooked Source Of Ice Age Carbs
Archaeology | Apr 24, 2023
-
Extremely Rare Ancient Coin Of Short-Lived Roman Ruler Laelianus Discovered
Archaeology | Jun 25, 2019
-
Hoards Of Viking Coins Discovered On The Island Of Saaremaa
Archaeology | Oct 7, 2019
-
Impressive Column Of Emperor Marcus Aurelius – War Monument From Ancient Rome
Featured Stories | Jul 6, 2017