Joseph Schwarzer is writing a doctoral dissertation at the State University of New York, Binghamton, on the dozens of iron spears, javelins, and swords he has cast; Schwarzerd identification of the weapons should help identify the nationality of those in charge of the ship when it sank. And M.A. candidate Cheryl Ward Haldane's study of seeds and pollen from the ship may aid in an understanding of its route. The nationality of the ship is of particular interest because the ship's hull represents the oldest known seagoing hull built in the modern framefirst manner as opposed to the ancient shell-first method. The shapes of modern hulls are determined by pre-erected frames (commonly called "ribs") to which the planks are nailed, whereas Greek and Roman ships were built of planks joined edge to edge, without a "skeleton" or support, before the frames were installed. Thus the Serçe Liman hull is an important artifact for future generations. To prevent it from warping and shrinking beyond recognition, we have treated its timbers under daily attention for the past two years in tanks of polyethylene glycol. Meanwhile, every fragment was traced at full scale by recent graduate Sheila Joy Kitson-Mim Mack of TexasA&M searches for joins among "dimpled" glass shards sorted in the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. 46 ARCHAEOLOGY g Ä »