Roman ship wreck found in Ostia Antica

[Melvadius]

Past Horizons is carrying this report of the discovery of an 11 metre section of an Imperial period ship.

 

NB The article claims that there are 10 images linked to the article but so far I have only found 2

 

Archaeologists say they have found part of an ancient ship near Rome during repair work to a bridge. The 11 metre vessel is one of the largest ancient vessels excavated near Ostia Antica, a port city founded some 2,500 years ago.

 

The original river harbour of Ostia had limitations as larger ships such as this one could not enter it due to a sand bar near the mouth of the river. Mercantile goods that arrived in large sea going ships had to be transferred to smaller vessels at sea then these shallow-draught vessels could navigate the river and moor at the Tiber quays, but as time passed there was just not enough capacity for Rome

[Centurion-Macro]

Very interesting! The Roman navy is one of my favourite topics.

[Melvadius]

Discovery now has a short article as well along with a couple more photographs one showing the rope and another a wider shot of the excvations here.

 

However I have now tracked down the link to the original article on the ANSA site which although in Italian has some really good photographs and other intformation here

 

NB it was in the orignal Past Horizons article but buried at the bottom of the page not looking very obvious.

[Klingan]

Great news, thanks for sharing it M! There's always something special about it when an ancient ship is found, too bad that it would be difficult to get to see this one.

[parthianbow]

Very cool indeed. I hope that they find more remains there.

 

Ostia is meant to be one of the most amazing sites to visit, with its merchants' premises, flats, and the entrance to a Mithraeum which is a mosaic of various aspects of the mysterious religion.

Edited May 20, 2011 by parthianbow