The 2025 INA calendar celebrates the wide-ranging work of INA photographer Dr. Donald A. Frey. Don’s innovative use of handheld BIRNS Snooper lights to illuminate subjects and artifacts under water resulted in compelling images of remarkable beauty.
1
JANUARY
Kızılburun Column Wreck Excavation
Kızılburun, Turkey | 2005–2011
INA archaeologists excavated the remains of a ship that sank in the 1st century BC at Kızılburun, Turkey, while transporting a cargo of marble architectural elements likely destined for the oracular Temple of Apollo at Claros. The ship also carried a subsidiary cargo of roughly finished marble objects, including basins, pedestal bases, and grave stelae. Here, INA archaeologists move one of the large basins found on the site.
© INA/photographer Don Frey
2
FEBRUARY
Uluburun Late Bronze Age Shipwreck Excavation
Kaş, Turkey | 1984–1994
Deemed one of the ten most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the Late Bronze Age ship at Uluburun, Turkey, was excavated by INA between 1984 and 1994. This merchantman sank around 1320 BC while transporting a cargo of copper, tin, and glass ingots along with pottery, terebinth resin, and luxury items, providing an unparalleled glimpse of trade between pharaohs, royals, and elites
© INA/photographer Don Frey
3
MARCH
Porticello Shipwreck Publication
Reggio Calabria, Italy | 1982
In 1982, Don Frey traveled to Italy to photograph artifacts from the Porticello shipwreck for publication. This Classical period shipwreck, found in the Straits of Messina, carried a mixed cargo of wine, salt fish, inkpots, lead ingots, and bronze sculpture. Here, Don is measuring light levels at the Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria. The wreck’s final report, by Cynthia Eiseman and Brunilde Ridgway, was published in 1987.
© INA
4
APRIL
Bozburun Byzantine Shipwreck Excavation
Bozburun, Turkey | 1995–1998
The merchant vessel found at Bozburun, Turkey, dates to the late 9th century AD, an important transitional period in Mediterranean shipbuilding. This modest Byzantine ship sank while transporting a cargo of around 1,300 amphoras of pulpy red wine. The final report on the Bozburun shipwreck will be featured in a forthcoming publication in the Nautical Archaeology Series.
© INA/photographer Don Frey
5
MAY
Serçe Limanı Hellenistic Shipwreck Excavation
Serçe Limanı, Turkey | 1978–1980, 2023–Present
Dated to the 3rd century BC, the Hellenistic shipwreck at Serçe Limanı, Turkey, was partially excavated by an INA team between 1978 and 1980. Since 2023, INA archaeologists have returned to the challenging site to continue the excavation. Finds from the site include stamped Knidian amphoras, glazed pottery, marble and lead rings, and a lead pipe that may provide the earliest evidence for bilge pump systems
© INA/photographer Don Frey
6
JUNE
Kızılburun Column Wreck Excavation
Kızılburun, Turkey | 2005–2011
In addition to its cargo of marble, the 1st-century BC shipwreck found at Kızılburun, Turkey, carried a wide variety of pottery as well as transport amphoras from the Adriatic and Black Seas and Egypt. The pottery includes both undecorated, utilitarian cookware and several types of typical Hellenistic fine ware, such as moldmade bowls, black glaze, and grey ware. Here, INA Director Josh Daniel moves a pitcher.
© INA/photographer Don Frey
7
JULY
Tektaş Burnu Classical Greek Shipwreck Excavation
Tektaş Burnu, Turkey | 1999–2001
Excavated between 1999 and 2001, the 5th-century BC shipwreck at Tektaş Burnu, Turkey, is the only Classical Greek shipwreck ever to be fully excavated in Aegean waters. During the 2000 season, vinyl labels on the amphora mouths served as targets for mapping the wreck using digital photogrammetry, an early application of the technique. A bright red sea star, Echinaster sepositus, is also visible.
© INA/photographer Don Frey
8
AUGUST
Uluburun Late Bronze Age Shipwreck Excavation
Kaş, Turkey | 1984–1994
In addition to its rich and diverse cargo, the 14th-century BC shipwreck at Uluburun, Turkey, yielded part of the ship’s hull, providing unique insights into Late Bronze Age shipbuilding. INA archaeologists excavating the site also identified the remains of a wicker work weather fence, similar to those seen on Bronze Age Syrian ships depicted in Egyptian tomb paintings.
© INA/photographer Don Frey
9
SEPTEMBER
Serçe Limanı Medieval Shipwreck Excavation
Serçe Limanı, Turkey | 1977–1979
Popularly known as the Glass Wreck, the ship that sank at Serçe Limanı, Turkey, in the early 11th century AD was transporting three metric tons of glass cullet, 80 pieces of intact glassware, copper cauldrons, wine amphoras, weapons, tools, jewelry, fishing gear, coins, and weights. Finds from this ship, excavated by INA in the late 1970s, comprise the largest collection of medieval Islamic glass in existence.
© INA/photographer Don Frey
10
OCTOBER
Pedro Bank Survey
Pedro Bank, Jamaica | 1981–1983
In the early 1980s, Don Frey joined other INA archaeologists in a survey of Pedro Bank, Jamaica. This submerged mesa posed a dangerous obstacle to shipping, and at least seven ships are known to have been lost here from the 16th to 19th centuries. The primary focus of the search was the location of the Spanish vessel known as Genovesa, lost in 1730; five sites of interest were identified amidst an abundance of coral.
© INA/photographer Don Frey
11
NOVEMBER
Pabuç Burnu Archaic Greek Shipwreck Excavation
Pabuç Burnu, Turkey | 2002–2003
The early 6th-century BC ship lost at Pabuç Burnu, Turkey, was a modest Greek merchantman carrying a local cargo of agricultural goods. INA archaeologists recovered roughly 250 amphoras as well as remains of the ship’s hull, which provides an example of Archaic laced shipbuilding. In this image, Don Frey, using one of his signature moves, swoops in low to photograph a diver moving an amphora.
© INA/photographer Sheila Matthews
12
DECEMBER
Catamaran Millawanda
Built in Istanbul, Turkey | 2000–2014
In 2000, INA Founder George Bass spearheaded the acquisition of the submersible Carolyn and designed the 45 ft long steel catamaran Millawanda to transport, launch, and retrieve the submersible. Millawanda also served as a support vessel for the Tektaş Burnu, Pabuç Burnu, and Kızılburun shipwreck excavations as well as multiple surveys
© INA/photographer Don Frey
