Kategorie: News
44 tonnes of cargo found on Roman wreckage
A diver discovered the ancient wreck during a dive in the Mediterranean Sea - off the coast of Israel - and reported it to the local authorities. A closer look revealed that the shipwreck was about 1,800 years old and was carrying a cargo of marble columns. The wreck is now being explored by researchers.
Interestingly, although the archaeologists knew of the existence of the wreck, they could not locate it precisely. This was due to the tides, which repeatedly covered the site with a layer of sand, protecting it from investigation. According to the researchers, the strong storms on the Israeli coast have uncovered the wreck.
In an official statement, a representative of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said that Corinthian columns and capitals (the top finial of a column) decorated with floral patterns were among those found on the wreck. The marble columns are about 6 metres long and the experts estimated the total weight of the artifacts carried at 44 tonnes.
Using the available data, the archaeologists also determined the size of the ship and estimated that it could have carried a cargo of at least 200 tonnes. The location of the wreck suggests that the ship could have been travelling from Turkey or Greece towards Alexandria in Egypt. According to the researchers, this is the oldest known wreck found in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The statement goes on to say that the ship probably capsized during a heavy storm. The location of the wreck and its angle suggest that the crew dropped anchor to prevent the ship from running aground on shoals. Such storms are common along the Israeli coast. Due to limited manoeuvrability, the ships then often hit shoals where they were shipwrecked, according to Koby Sharvit, director of the underwater archaeology department at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Important clue
The discovered archaeological site has important scientific value. As it turns out, researchers have been speculating for many years about how the Romans imported architectural elements. In particular, the question is whether they were only partially worked or whether they were instead sent on their journey completely finished.The discovered wreck contained the basic raw material and partially worked finds that were then to be finished at their destination.