A 2.2m Euro project named Venus (Virtual Exploration of Underwater Sites) has bet set up to create a digital record of shipwrecks found along side Europe’s coasts. The project involves 11 research institutions from the continent.

Archaeologists, computer and digital animation specialists from the University of Hull have joined forces in an attempt to recreate 3D images of ships that sunk around European coasts in ancient times. The project will allow people to see what a ship looked like in times of yore.

Specialists say that by using this method they can add a number of details that vanquished over time creating a good opportunity for future studies.

According to the Guardian News Service, two shipwrecks were digitally recreated until now. A roman ship dating from around 200 AD that was found near the Tuscan coast and another pre-18^th century ship found just off the Portuguese cost near Sessimbra. The later is named Barco da Telha.

Scientists have used sonar surveys to detect the exact position of every object within the vessels.

In the near future the project will be available for download from its official website www.venus-project.eu

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Tags: ancient, roman, ship, shipwreck