- Who
- David Mearns, WMG University of Warwick, Ministry of Heritage & Culture
- What
- 1498 +/- 2 years year(s)
- Where
- Oman (Al Hallaniyah Island)
- When
The oldest mariner's astrolabe dates from the year 1498 (+/- 2 years), as discovered by David L. Mearns (UK) on the site of a Portuguese shipwreck off the coast of Al Hallaniyah Island, Dhofar, Oman, on 8 May 2014.
The astrolabe was found on 8th May 2014, by David Mearns.
The astrolabe was found on a shipwreck confirmed to be the boat called Esmeralda, part of a fleet led by Vasco da Gama. Esmeralda sunk off the coast of the Omani Island in 1503.
The astrolabe allowed mariners to measure the height of the sun above the horizon to determine their location.
