Fans of history, maritime archaeology, or simply anyone fascinated by the unknowns of the sea will enjoy Mensun Bound and Mark Frary’s deep dive (sorry!) of artefacts, wreckages and other mysteries recovered from the ocean floor.
Wonders In The Deep sees Mensun Bound, a renowned maritime archaeologist who served as the Director of Exploration for the crew who discovered Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance, join acclaimed journalist Mark Frary to explore the vast history that lies beneath the waves.
The book is a journey through time, reaching as far back as 3000BCE. Notable finds include the discovery of Ancient Egyptian relics, terracotta statuettes dated back to the 6th century BCE, and Ancient Greek carpentry callipers.
The ocean is a unique lens to view history through. With each artefact, Bound and Frary slowly piece together the information and stories these artefacts hold. Their curiosity and love for discovery is evident in their writing. It’s this passion that brings the subject matter to life, which in less enthusiastic hands may begin feel like reading plaques at a museum.
Bound is a natural storyteller who vividly paints a picture of the life of each artefact and the people that left them behind. In one notable instance Bound recalls searching for a diver who had recovered an ancient Greek helmet decades prior. The rest of the artefacts from this expedition had been stolen by other divers. Over many years and chance encounters, Bound eventually found the diver, who still had the ancient helmet in his possession, locked away in a vault. He allowed Bound to try it on, offering the rare opportunity to connect with such an important piece of history. The diver died shortly after, and the helmet’s whereabouts are now unknown.
Each discovery and the story behind it is fascinating. However, the book’s structure made it difficult at times to stay engaged. With so much ground to cover, the focus shifted frequently, and I often found myself wishing for a more in-depth look at certain artefacts or time periods. However, given the breadth of information – spanning different times and places, this challenge is largely unavoidable.
Overall, it’s an engrossing read imbibed with a wealth of knowledge about history and maritime archaeology. If you’re captivated by shipwrecks, war relics and ancient civilisations, pop this on your to-read list. It’s a treasure in itself.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Wonders in the Deep by Mensun Bound and Mark Fray is available now from Simon & Schuster Australia. Grab yourself a copy from your local bookshop HERE.
