Shipwrecks and Sunken Treasures Quiz

Answer: Mediterranean

In 1982, a Turkish sponge diver, Mehemet Cakir, reported spotting "metal biscuits with ears" on the seabed off Uluburun on the south coast of Turkey. These turned out to be Bronze Age copper ingots with handles at the corners, of the type used at the time. Included in the cargo were also tin ingots, amphorae, jars, jewelry and goods from many lands, showing the far reaches of trade in the Mediterranean at that epoch.
It was estimated that the wreck was 3,300 years old and had sailed around 1,200 B.C.

Answer: The Marquesas Keys

In 1622, the Atocha was part of a treasure fleet transporting gold treasure from South America to Spain.
Of the 28 ships in the fleet, eight were lost, among them the Atocha.
In 1985, Mel Fisher, a treasure salvor, found the wreck after a 16-year search, during which three divers died, including his son Dirk.
The wreck contained an estimated $400 million in silver, gold and precious stones.

Answer: Henry VIII

The Mary Rose was England's pride at the time.
On July 19, 1545, Henry VIII witnessed its sinking from South Sea Castle, during a battle with the French.
It is believed that it might have sunk because it was overloaded with cannons and poorly balanced. Most of the 700 aboard died.
In 1982, it was finally dug out of the mud. It did not contain gold, but a treasure trove of artifacts, bows, arrows, and personal items of the crew.
The remains of the hull are being conserved and are on display at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Answer: Gold

The ship sank on September 11, 1857, when it ran into a violent hurricane off the North Carolina coast.
It was carrying a huge cargo of gold from the California Gold Rush to New York.
About 150 people, mostly women and children were saved by other ships, but 426 souls and the gold cargo were lost.
Much of the gold estimated at $1 billion, was recovered in 1988 with the help of a remotely operated robot.

Answer: German U-boat

The Lusitania was sunk on May 7, 1915, torpedoed by a German submarine.
It sank rapidly, and 1198 souls were lost. Since many Americans perished on it, including Alfred Vanderbilt, it contributed to the entry of the US in WWI against Germany.

Answer: Great Lakes ore carrier

The Edmund Fitzgerald was famous as one of the largest ore carriers operating on Lake Michigan.
It sank in a violent storm on November 10, 1975.
All 29 aboard perished. There is controversy as to what caused the sinking.

Answer: The Atlantic

Lost July 26, 1956, the luxury Italian liner was knifed South of Nantucket by the Swedish liner Stockholm during a foggy night, despite the use of radar.
The reinforced bow of the Stockholm caused the Andrea Doria to flood and sink. 51 people died, but the Stockholm remained afloat and rescued some of the passengers.
At least a dozen divers have died while visiting the wreck that lies at the dangerous depth of 225 feet.

Answer: Submarine

The nuclear attack submarine was in the Atlantic, 400 miles SW of the Azores when it went down with 99 men aboard, in 12,000 ft. of water.
It was not discovered for 5 months after it sunk, and the cause of the disappearance is still unknown.

Answer: Clive Cussler

Adventure novelist Clive Cussler led the expedition that discovered the Hunley in 1995. The Hunley was a submarine of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
On February 17, 1864, it attacked and sunk the screw sloop Housatonic in Charleston harbor. Soon after it sank, killing the crew of 8.
It was recovered in 2000 and it is on display in Charleston.
It seems that its demise was caused by the explosion of its torpedo, due to a malfunction.

Answer: British torpedo

The Edinburgh was carrying 5.5 tons of Soviet gold paid by Stalin to Britain for war materials.
Attacked by the Germans and in danger of being captured by them, it was sunk by the British Admiral Bonham Carter off the Soviet coast at Murmansk on May 2, 1942.
In 1981 most of the gold was recovered, followed by years of legal haggling.