Archaeologists find graveyard of sunken Roman ships

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

A team of archaeologists using sonar technology to scan the seabed have discovered a "graveyard" of five pristine ancient Roman shipwrecks off the small Italian island of Ventotene. The trading vessels, dating from the first century BC to the fifth century AD, lie more than 100 meters underwater and are amongst the deepest wrecks discovered in the Mediterranean in recent years, the researchers said on Thursday.

 

Part of an archipelago situated halfway between Rome and Naples on Italy's west coast, Ventotene historically served as a place of shelter during rough weather in the Tyrrhenian sea...............

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090723/sc_nm/...taly_shipwrecks

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

A few more pictures from the shipwreck.....

 

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Ancient-Roma...af83acbb6e81d31

[Ludovicus]

Fascinating. Once thoroughly investigated, these shipwrecks should be able to provide valuable information shipbuilding and on the history of Mediterranean sea trade during the Roman era.

 

There is another Roman naval "graveyard" uncovered about ten years ago when 16 ancient ships came to light at construction site near Pisa's main train station. Here's more on this fascinating story of a totally unexpected trove of Roman ships:

 

"In 1998, an inspection was carried out before work was to begin on the foundations of a new FS National Railways control centre in the vicinity of the Pisa-San Rossore train station, not far from Behind the Tower. The builders made an amazing discovery only 500 metres from the Piazza dei Miracoli: they found the remains of the urban harbour of Pisae, the ancient Etruscan and Roman harbour and in it, were found several ancient ships, perfectly preserved.

 

This was immediately acknowledged as a discovery of great historical import for several reasons, not least of which, for the number of archaeological finds present at the site.

 

There are at least 16 ancient ships, 9 of which are presently being recovered. This is an amazing discovery, because there are no other examples of ancient ships (1st century B.C - 4th century A.C.) so well preserved. Perhaps even more significantly, their cargo was found, including the most perishable goods such as ropes, rigging, fishing equipment, equipment for negotiating the canals, anchors made from stone, wood and iron, baskets and fishing pots.

 

These items do not usually survive centuries of burial, but the conditions of the ground in this location, in the absence of oxygen, managed to preserve even the most fragile objects. These finds are fundamental in order to improve our knowledge of the life and activities in Pisa in the Etruscan and Roman times."

 

http://www.behindthetower.com/en/pisa/sigh...ientshipsofpisa

 

 

Here's a link to the recently opened museum dedicated to these ships:

http://www.cantierenavipisa.it/Scavo.html

Edited July 27, 2009 by Ludovicus

[Crispina]

The photos from the museum were fascinating. Thanks for sharing.