guy Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 (edited) A recently excavated Roman shipwreck off the shore of Mallorca, Spain from the 4th century AD had uncovered around 300 amphorae. (I believe the post below is about the original find in 2019.) Only now have the contents of the amphorae been examined. Some amphorae had wine and others suspected olive oil. Many contained a substance residue thought to be a fish sauce distinct from garum Quote Because the ship is exceptionally well-preserved, many painted inscriptions (tituli picti), on the exterior of the amphorae have survived. They identify the manufacturers, Ausonius et Alunni, and the contents: Liq Fos, short for liquamen flos (flowers of liquamen). At the time this ship was transporting goods, liquamen was a fish sauce distinct from garum, the fermented fish condiment that was ubiquitous in Roman repasts. (From the 5th century the two would become synonymous.) . A coin at the wreck depicts Constantine the Great, dating the find at the earliest to the early AD 300s. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12520-024-01952-3 https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/1700-year-old-roman-shipwreck-was-stuffed-to-the-gills-with-fish-sauce-when-it-sank#:~:text=The Ses Fontanelles wreck lies,after a storm in 2019. Fish sauce, new amphora type identified on Roman wreck – The History Blog Shipwreck seen from above with amphorae: Note: There is great confusion about garum and liquamen since these term have been used interchangeably but they probably are distinct entities. (See article below) Quote It is clear that black garum was pre-eminent at the tables of the elite in Roman satire of the 1st century AD and it appears it was hugely popular on the streets of Pompeii. However, it is now necessary to recognise that the essential substance that dominated the Roman fish sauce trade may not have been a garum but a liquamen type of sauce. Garum and Liquamen, What’s in a Name? | Journal of Maritime Archaeology (springer.com) Edited May 18 by guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guidoLaMoto Posted May 18 Report Share Posted May 18 Amazing....After two thousand yrs, had the fish sauce gone bad?.....How could they tell?...I bet there weren't very many fat Romans. Very interesting discussion of the evolution of the terms & products garum and liquamen. Thanks for the references. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy Posted May 18 Author Report Share Posted May 18 Here’s a video on the find: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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