Travel Lecture: Sunken Secrets
Location: Cultural Centre Izola
Time: 7.00 pm
Free entry
Andrej Voje - Sunken Secrets
Our guest will be Andrej Voje, underwater photographer and cameraman, who will take us into the depths of the Adriatic Sea and present the secrets of sunken ships and aircraft that have reached their last resting place in the depths of the sea.
As he also works with underwater archaeologists in his exploration of the sea, he will also present their discoveries.
In an hour and forty minutes long, very interesting lecture, Andrej Voje presented several Croatian archaeological sites, where he has worked as a cameraman, through film footage in front of a full hall.
He showed the research of the Byzantine shipwreck at Tatinica - Maharac in the submarine area of the island of Mljet, led by Igor Miholjek from the Department of Underwater Archaeology, Croatian Institute for Restoration. The ship was carrying several types of Byzantine amphorae, as well as rich trade objects and merchant equipment, and parts of the ship's structure were also found.
Andrej Voje was one of the first to document some 600 preserved amphorae in situ in Šimuni Bay near Pag. He can boast of some truly remarkable images.
Already in 2006, at a depth of forty metres at St. Paul's near Mljet, perfectly preserved remains of a modern shipwreck were discovered, including eight bronze cannons and scattered fragments of ceramic vessels, glass and metal objects. It was found to be a 16th century merchant ship, carrying a very luxurious commercial cargo on its way between the eastern Mediterranean merchant ports and Venice. Many participants had heard of this rich underwater site before, thanks to a good publicity campaign and a very high-profile exhibition, but Andrej Voje's vivid narration and explanation of the techniques of archaeological documentation, the presentation of the finds and the site, as well as of his personal experiences, which he narrated with a subtlety throughout the film, made it easy to miss.
Alongside the older shipwrecks, Andrej Voje also presented younger, less distant wrecks, namely the wreck of the cargo steamer Teti near the islet of Mali Barjak, west of Komiza, which is one of the more popular diving attractions. The 72-metre-long ship was built in America in 1883 and was flying the Italian flag in 1930 when it ran aground on an underwater rock due to a navigational error. At a depth of 34 metres, the round stern and a view of almost the entire ship are visible, with the sponge-covered rudder in the foreground, along with the inevitable red kirnia and eels.
Next, Andrej Voje presented the wreck of a Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" (Sturzkampfflugzeug), popularly known as the Stuka, a German WWII fighter sunk off the island of Zirje. The Stuka sunk off this island was part of the Italian Air Force; the Italians bought it from the Germans. In April 1941, it was blown up by the air defence of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Of the nearly 6 000 aircraft of this type made, only a few survive, and only two are on display in London and Chicago. This makes the discovery of this aircraft type, almost completely preserved (it is only without an engine), lying at a depth of 28 metres in the Croatian sea, all the more remarkable.
Alongside the explanations and memorable footage, the audience was also captivated by the witty narration of Andrej Vojt, who shared his personal side and vividly described his strong desire, enthusiasm and ingenuity to become part of the Croatian archaeological research team, which he succeeded in doing. He also illustrated his views as an experienced cameraman, his thoughts on archaeological sites and the way and the related peripeties of how he immortalised what the participants of the lecture were able to see and admire.
You are invited !
