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Wonders in the Deep: Extraordinary Shipwreck Discoveries from Spanish Gold to Shackleton's Bible
An awe-inspiring deep-dive into the treasures found on the sea floor and what they reveal about our past.
In Wonders in the Deep Mensun Bound, the renowned archaeologist who was the Director of Exploration on the team that discovered Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, argues that the history of the world is as much about maritime exploration and trade as it is about what happens on land. Using the many treasures Bound has discovered at the bottom of the sea and working with journalist Mark Frary, he sets out to write a maritime history of the world from 3000 BC to the present by way of the Ancient Romans and Egyptians, the Vikings and the Chinese, the Portuguese and Spanish and Dutch, through to the US Navy.
The objects include skeletons and sewing pins; cannonballs and peacocks; all preserved in shipwrecks hundreds – sometimes thousands – of years old. From Phoenician fertility statues to Corinthian helmets, a Chinese porcelain dish to a Nazi Eagle, the stories of these treasures tell us as much about these amazing objects as the people who used them, shining a light on how and why they found themselves at the bottom of the sea.
Interwoven throughout with beautiful photographs, Wonders in the Deep is a riveting story of human ambition, defeat and ingenuity.
In Wonders in the Deep Mensun Bound, the renowned archaeologist who was the Director of Exploration on the team that discovered Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, argues that the history of the world is as much about maritime exploration and trade as it is about what happens on land. Using the many treasures Bound has discovered at the bottom of the sea and working with journalist Mark Frary, he sets out to write a maritime history of the world from 3000 BC to the present by way of the Ancient Romans and Egyptians, the Vikings and the Chinese, the Portuguese and Spanish and Dutch, through to the US Navy.
The objects include skeletons and sewing pins; cannonballs and peacocks; all preserved in shipwrecks hundreds – sometimes thousands – of years old. From Phoenician fertility statues to Corinthian helmets, a Chinese porcelain dish to a Nazi Eagle, the stories of these treasures tell us as much about these amazing objects as the people who used them, shining a light on how and why they found themselves at the bottom of the sea.
Interwoven throughout with beautiful photographs, Wonders in the Deep is a riveting story of human ambition, defeat and ingenuity.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2024
7 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 4, 2025
this is a book that i took my time with. this book is physically a work of art and so i read it in small sections to properly take in all the images. this is a lovely collection that explores just shipwrecks themselves, but importantly what is left in them, and what that can tell us. being an antarctic marine scientist i am biased but 'the ice ships' was undoubtably my favourite section (particlualry with the focuss on the Weddell Sea, which is where my current research is based). but the whole book was very well done, and i definitely want to read the author's book specifically on the Endurance (its been on my tbr since it came out but i've still not bought it).
imo you can always tell when a book is written by someone with a true passion for the subject. this is one of those books.
imo you can always tell when a book is written by someone with a true passion for the subject. this is one of those books.
October 8, 2024
This was good and really interesting, though I think it could be improved with some pictures of what is discussing or sketches of the object etc. It would've elevated the material a lot, especially when you have no reference to begin with your imagination.
July 19, 2025
Such a lovely and interesting read, giving an exciting glimpse into the world of maritime archaeology. I enjoyed how the chapters were arranged, especially considering the breadth of topics it uncovered. Mensun Bound, I think you have one of the most exciting jobs in the world!!! 🥹💕
Something that I really liked about this book was that it felt like I was going through a museum exhibition. Not only did I learn a lot, but the read was exciting, featuring a mix of Bound's personal recounts, explanations into how maritime excavations are uncovered and of course, historical sources and conclusions drawn from those.
Something that I really liked about this book was that it felt like I was going through a museum exhibition. Not only did I learn a lot, but the read was exciting, featuring a mix of Bound's personal recounts, explanations into how maritime excavations are uncovered and of course, historical sources and conclusions drawn from those.
January 24, 2025
Amazing book with brilliant pictures of the wonderful treasures found! The peacock that was found has to be my favourite 😍
April 1, 2025
It was a worthwhile dip into this book to discover some of the amazing things that have ended up in our oceans (mostly from shipwrecks). I always enjoy reading this type of book.
June 24, 2025
amazing, and inspirational for my degree
November 8, 2025
What an epic read, the sense of adventure here laid out with history is so cool. When I hit the first chapter I was thinking I had made a mistake, a simple retelling of shipwrecks in isolation is certainly a dull endeavour. but the passion of the author and overall length never blowing out too far made this an absolute must read. What a wonderful retelling of the wonders beneath the waves.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews