The remains of an 18th century Russian battleship were discovered at the bottom of the Aegean Sea off Didim city in the west of Turkey, the Daily Sabah reported on Wednesday.

According to the head of the team of explorers, Harun Ozdas, research work was conducted at a depth of 65 meters. "We found some 30 cannons, cannonballs, pieces of munitions and kitchen utensils scattered in an area that extends some 1,200 square meters," he said.

Ozdas said a 2.95-meter-long cannon weighing 2.5 tonnes "bears the coat of arms of a Russian monarch and yet-to-deciphered Cyrillic writing".

The copper-bottom wooden warship has not been identified as of yet. Supposedly, it was taking part in the legendary battle of Chesma during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774.

In June 1770, a Russian squadron blockaded the Ottoman fleet in Chesma Bay 238 kilometers north of Didim, destroying it. The victory enabled Russia’s military control of the eastern part of the Mediterranean.