Identification of Hair and Feathers from the Protective Coatings of a Bosporan Ship of the 1st Century BC

This work continues a series of publications devoted to the results of studying materials from a shipwreck of the 1st century BC that were found in the ancient seaport of Phanagoria (Taman Bay, Sea of Azov). Animal hair samples and bird feathers included in the composite protective coatings of the hull of a ship of the Pontic king Mithridates VI Eupator are studied. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, the species of ancient animals and birds whose hair and feathers were used to make the composite clay-fiber coating are determined.