Wrecks & shipfinds of the Mediterranean

Prehistory and Antiquity

The earliest open sea navigation was probably on the Mediterranean. Around two thousand years ago, the sea had become like an Autobahn of its day. The shipping volume of the Roman Empire would not be exceeded until maybe the 17th century AD.
  

• Abydos Royal boats. Several large river boats were found, and partly excavated, on land in Abydos, Egypt, in 2000. Dated to c 3000 BC. This, or the Kuwait find, is probably the world's oldest find of built boats.
• Khufu ships. Ca 2600 BC, two planked ships were dismantled and buried outside the great pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops). They were found intact in 1954. Khufu 1 is 42 m long, assembled 1969-71 and on public display in Cairo. The hulls were flat or round bottomed, with Cedarwood planks joined edge to edge by "mortise-and-tenon" fashion. The pit believed to contain the second ship, Khufu 2, is still not excavated, but there are plans to assemble the ship. Described in IJNA 15.2 1986 and Skyllis 1.1999. Khufu 1 text. Khufu 1 text. Khufu 2 text. Khufu 2 text. Link. Link.
• Hydra Island wreck, Greece. Found in 1975 by Peter Throckmorton on 20 m depth. The cargo consisted of pottery of the Cycladic type. Some timbers were preserved. Dated to c 2500 BC. Ref Kenneth Hudson: The Book of Shipwrecks (Macmillan 1979).
• Dashur boats. Four or maybe six planked boats were found in 1894 by Jacques de Morgan, buried at the Egyptian pyramid of pharaoh Senwosret (Sesostris) III, who died in 1859 BC. They are carvel-built with the shell first method. The planks were fastened using both sewing and "mortise-and-tenon" fastenings. The shapes are similar to that of a papyrus boat. Four boats are preserved, each between 9 and 10 m long. Two of them are displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The other two are in USA at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh. Ref British Museum Encyclopaedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology. Link.
• The Lipari finds. Off this Italian island some pottery has been found, possibly from a wreck dated around 1700 BC.
• Uluburun wreck, near the city of Kas, Turkey. Trading ship of Near Eastern origin, located at 45-60 m depth. Thanks to pieces of firewood it has been dendro dated to have sunk in 1316 BC. Excavation headed by George F Bass, INA, in the '80s and '90s. Among the recovered cargo was 10 tons of Cypriotic copper bars and ingots (most of them ox-hide shaped), and tin. Among luxury goods was a golden scarab with the name of Queen Nefertiti, a golden cup, glass, and plenty of perfume. The ship may have been 15-16 m long, and the planks were joined by "mortise-and-tenon". The ship carried no less than 24 stone anchors. Described in National Geographic Dec 1987 & May 1992, Archaeology Nov/Dec 1998, and IJNA 13.4 1984 & 27.3 1998. Link. Link.
• Cape Gelidonya wreck, near Finike, Turkey. Phoenician trading ship from about 1200 BC, on ca 27 m depth on irregular rocky bottom. Located in 1954. Excavated from 1960 by Peter Throckmorton, George F Bass, and Frédéric Dumas. Among the finds were Mycenaean ceramics and copper and tin ingots. Concretions contained hollows after disintegrated objects. These were moulded producing copies. Ref National Geographic, May 1960 & May 1962. Link. Link.
• Point Iria wreck, Greece. Cypriotic or Mycaenian origin, dated to ca 1200 BC, lying on 12-27 m depth. Investigated by the Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology in 1991-1995.
• "Tanit" and "Elissa". These names were given to two of several deep-sea wrecks located in the East Mediterranean, near ancient Ashkelon, present Gaza, in 1997 on c 260-400 m depth. The ships are Phoenician. Dated to c 725  or possibly back to 800 BC. Ref National Geographic, Jan 2001 & American Journal of Archaeology, April 2002. Link.
• The Mazarron wrecks. A Phoenician wrecksite was found under the bottom sand in 1988 off Mazarron, Murcia, Spain. The first wreck was investigated in 1993-95 and then reburied for protection. In 1994 a second Phoenician wreck was found on the site. It is dated to the 2nd half of 7th c BC, with keel and lower hull parts well preserved. The cargo included lead ingots and a basket. The second ship was raised 1993-95 and may possibly be exhibited in a new museum. Ref IJNA 24.3 1995 and 30.2 2001.
• The Giglio pre-Classical wreck, Italy. Found on 50 m depth in 1961 and investigated 1981-86. Because of its great depth, the excavation required a large number of divers. Dated to ca 600 BC. One bronze helmet has been recovered. Among other finds are Etruscan bucchero pottery. The hull planks were sewn together. Described in The Giglio Ship by Mensun Bound and IJNA 12.2 1983.
• Hyères Islands wreck. Etruscan wreck found by DRASSM and Comex in 2000 on 75m depth near Toulon, France. Well-preserved and dated to 6th-5th c BC. To be investigated.
• Melkarth wreck, Phoenician wreck on great depth in the western Mediterranean, perhaps from 500 BC, located and video filmed in 1998 by Greg Stemm. Link. Link.
• The Ma'agan Mikhael shipwreck, Israel. 12 m long, dated to 5th century BC, investigated 1985-90 by Elisha Linder, believed to be Phoenician, displayed in its own museum at the University of Haifa. Link.
• Porticello wreck. Found by fishermen in 1969 on c 35 m depth in the Straits of Messina, Italy. First looted, then investigated in 1970. Ca 17 m long, may have had a capacity of 30 tons, and dated to c 400 BC. The hull was constructed with the "mortise-and-tenon" method. Contained c 100 amphoras, lead ingots and bronze stature fragments, including a bearded head. Some objects are displayed in the Museo Nazionale, Reggio. Ref IJNA 2.1 1973 & 27.2 1998 and The Porticello Shipwreck by C.J. Eiseman.
• Kyrenia ship, Cyprus. Amphora transport sunk around 306 BC on 30 m depth. This was one of five wrecks located in 1967 by M.L. Katzev, University of Pennsylvania. The hull was recovered and conserved in PEG. The cargo included almonds and hundreds of amphoras from Rhodes. Under the sediment, a large part of the hull was preserved. It was ca 12-15 m long with one mast, built with the shell method, edge-joined planks, and had a lead sheathing. A full scale sailing replica (photo) was constructed in 1985 by professor Richard Steffy. A reduced scale replica has been built for the Manchester Museum. Ref National Geographic, June 1970 and Nov 1974. Link. Link. Link.
• Marsala Punic ships, Sicily. Possibly from a naval battle in 241 BC, remains of two warships were found in 1969-71, only 70 m from each other. Investigated by Honor Frost. The ships were built with the shell-first method. Lower parts of the hull, one sternpost and parts of a ram were found intact. Cannabis was found on the site – possibly used by the crew. One of the ships is raised, conserved with PEG, and displayed in the Marsala Regional Archaeological Museum. About 10 m length remains of the ship, that may have originally been 35 m long and 5 m wide. According to one claim, which I can't confirm, the ship risks destruction because of maintenance problems. But when I visited the museum in January 2002, it looked well planned with a climate control system in the exhibition hall. Ref Les dossiers d'archéologie, Editions Faton, juin 1993, and IJNA 2.1 1973, 3.1.1974, 4.2 1975, 26.1 1997. Link. Link. Link. Link.
• Greek deep-sea wreck. In 1999, Nauticos Corp. was searching for a missing Israeli submarine. Instead they found a Greek shipwreck on c 3000 m depth, c 300 km off Cyprus. The wreck carries 2-3000 amphoras with Greek stamps, and is roughly dated at 200 BC. Ref New York Times, 27 March 2001.
• The wrecks off Grand Congloué, France. About 40 m long, loaded with Greek, Greco-Italian and Roman amphoras. Investigated by Cousteau and Fernand Benoît using scuba divers in 1951-57. The finds were on a slope at 28 - 44 m depth. First believed to be one wreck, it has now been concluded that it's two wrecks on top of each other, one from c 200 BC and one from c 100 BC. Ref National Geographic, Jan 1954. Link.
• Les Sorres VIII. Large Roman trading ship from 2nd century BC, in the harbour of Les Sorres, Catalonia, Spain. Discovered in 1965. Among the finds are two Etruscan helmets.
• Spargi wreck, Sardinia. From 120-100 BC, may have been 30 m long with a lead sheathed hull, loaded with furniture. Lies in 15-16 m depth. Excavated by Nino Lamboglia 1958-59. Looted. Excavated again in the 1970s. Looted again. Now hopefully protected. Link.
• Roman wreck off Mahdia, Tunisia, c 100 BC. About 40 m long, loaded with marble pillars. Found by sponge diver in 1907 on 39 m depth. First excavated in 1908-13, later by Cousteau in 1948 and 1954. Still being excavated. Some objects are displayed at the Musée le Bardo in Tunis. Reconstruction drawing by Olaf Höckmann. Ref B. M. Encyclopaedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology. Link. Link.
• Albenga wreck, Italy. Large, ca 40 m long, Roman cargo ship, about 100-90 BC. Found on 42 m depth, and investigated in 1950. The ship was probably capable of carrying 10 000 amphoras. Ref B. M. Encyclopaedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology.
• Sant Jordi 1. Roman merchant ship found near Mallorca Island. Excavated by Dali Colls 1977-78. Dated to 100-80 BC.
• Antikythera wreck, Greece, 80-50 BC. This was a Roman ship on its way with antiquities from Pergamon. In 1900 Greek sponge divers using helmets on 40-55 m depth, found the site as they saw bronze statues, first thought to be "a heap of dead naked women". Several bronzes were raised then, and additional diving was made by Cousteau in the '70s. Finds are displayed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, including bronze sculptures and an unidentified instrument, possibly an astronomical instrument. Link. Link. Link. Link.
• Madrague de Giens wreck, France. Ca 75-60 BC, ca 40 m long. At the time of sinking carrying maybe ca 600 amphoras, but capable of carrying thousands. Discovered on 20 m depth in 1967. Investigated by Patrice Pomey and A. Tchernia, who recovered a wooden piece of the keel. After investigation, the piece was replaced on the wrecksite, and covered by sand. Thus preserved for future studies. Ref B. M. Encyclopaedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology. Link.
• La Fourmigue wreck C, Golfe-Juan, Alpes Maritimes, France. Roman merchant ship located in 1980 on 60 m depth. Dated to mid-1st century AD. Among the recovered cargo are the spectacular fittings of a bronze bed, now (2002) displayed at the Musée d'archéologie, Nice. Ref Archéologie sous-marine – vingt ans de recherche sur les côtes de France (NICE-ENAC).
• Cap de Mèdes wreck, Porquerolles Island, France. Dated to 1st century BC. A remarkable find is a large scupper of lead pipes, leading pump water from the deck. It is exhibited at the Musée d'archéologie d'Antibes, France.
• Comacchio wreck, Italy. Found in 1980. The preserved 20 m long segment was raised and brought to the Comacchio museum, near Ravenna. Dated to the end of the 1st century BC.
• The Actium shipwrecks. In 31 BC the navy of Cleopatra and Anthony clashed against Octavian off the Greek coast. Hundreds of warships were sunk in a gigantic sea battle. So far none has been located. But the remains are waiting there someplace.
• The San Rossore wrecks. At least four, maybe eight, Roman wrecks found in 1998 on land near Pisa, Italy. Dated to between 1st century BC and 2nd century AD. Ref Skyllis 2/2000, Archaeology May 1999, and Archaeology July/Aug 1999. Link. Link.
• Kap Artemision wreck (Cape Artemisium), Greece, appr 0 BC/AD. A two metres long Zeus (or Poseidon?) statue from around 450 BC was found in 1928 and salvaged from 40 m depth, now displayed in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens. Photo. There were also other statues and wooden fragments from the wreck.
• Porto Nuovo wreck, Corsica. Located in 1989 on 10-12 m depth. Roman merchant ship loaded with marble columns. Investigated 1990-95. Among the recovered objects are stonecutter's tools, a Roman sword sheath, and a Tiberian gold coin minted in Lyon 27 or 28 AD. The wreck is dated to the 30s AD. Ref Skyllis 2/2000.
• Emperor Caligula's Nemi ships, Italy. Two ships used around 37-41 AD in the sweetwater Nemi lake. In 1929-32, the ships were found and salvaged. The largest ship was 70 m long. The ships were destroyed by fire in 1944. A full-scale replica is under way.
• Caligula's giant ship. Building the Rome airport in the 1950s, on the old harbour site of Ostia, traces of an enormous ship were found: 95 m long and 21 m wide. This is larger than any of the grain carriers, which loaded 1000 tons. This ship may have been the one that emperor Caligula built for the transport of the obelisque from Egypt, which still stands at St Peter's Square in Rome. The hull planks were 10 cm thick and the ship may have been capable to load 1300 tons. Ref J-Y Blot: Archéologie sous-marine (1988). Ancient obelisque transports are also discussed in IJNA 29.9.2000.
• Port-Vendres II. Roman merchant ship found on 7 m depth near the French-Spanish border. Excavated by Dali Colls. Thanks to stamped tin ingots of the cargo, it can be dated to 41-50 AD.
• Sea of Galilee Boat. 8 m long fishing boat found in Israel, 1986. Dated to 1st century AD. Excavated by Shelley Wachsmann. Treated with PEG for 14 years before displayed in museum in 2000. Ref. Peter Throckmorton: The Sea Remembers (1987).
• Culip IV, Cadaqués, Catalonia, small merchant ship dated to 69-89 AD.
• Merchant ship at Caesarea harbour, Israel. Dated to 83 AD or later. Roman lead ingots from the cargo have been recovered.
• Monfalcone wreck. In 1972 this wreck was found together with the remains of a Roman villa at Monfalcone, near Trieste, Italy. The preserved 11 m long bottom section was raised, immersed in fresh water 1974-81, and treated with PEG 1981-83. The ship may have originally been sheathed with lead. The ship is dated to between the first and third centuries AD. It is displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia.
• Cabrera III. Roman merchant ship found on 20-30 m depth near Mallorca Island. Investigated 1985-86 by Victor Guerrero & Dali Colls. Dated to 257 AD, thanks to nearly 1000 coins found.
• Giglio Roman wreck. Roman ship from ca 300 AD in the harbour of Giglio Island, Italy. Found in the 1970s on 35-40 m depth. First apparently looted but finally excavated in 1984-88. Estimated ship length 15 m, loaded with African amphoras.
• Yassi Ada 4th century ship, Bodrum (Helicarnassos), Turkey. Roman ship from 4th century AD, length ca 20 m, loaded with ca 1100 amphoras. Discovered on 36-42 m depth in 1958, investigated by the INA in 1967, '69 and '74. Ref Archaeology vol 21 no 3 1968, and IJNA 5.2 1976. Link.
• "Isis". Small late-Roman trading ship found west of Sicily in 1989 on ca 800 m depth. Using an ROV some objects were recovered: amphoras, anchors, wooden planking, and a coin. The ship is dated to last quarter of the 4th century and its original name is unknown. It was presumably sailing from Carthage to Rome.
   

  
Comment: There are very few Mediterranean wrecks from roughly 1150-750 BC and 400-900 AD. These gaps correspond to times of very little shipping and trade. First gap: The Dark Ages after the collapsed early Greek civilisations. Second gap: The Middle Ages. The shipping volume of Roman times was perhaps not reached again until the 16th or 17th century AD. This has been demonstrated by Dr A. J. Parker, see diagram.