Shipwreck Ghost Yard Discovered Off Coast of Italy

The Aurora Trust Archaeologists probed the Mediterranean Sea around the Ventotene Islands off the coast of Italy to discover five well-preserved ships, belonging to the Roman Empire. The shipwreck ghost yard possibly dates between the first century BC and the fifth century AD. The archaeological find sheds light on the import and export activities of the Romans during that time.

The archaeological team deployed its Klein System 3900 side scan sonar in 2008 to detect the presence of at least three ships 100 meters below the Mediterranean Sea's surface in their initial excavation area. They suspected they would find an additional two ships outside the area, and used their ROV to film and photograph all five wreckage sites. The Trust then sent down a team of divers to recover samples from the ghost ships.

Photos and video of the Ventotene Shipwrecks

Ventotene has historically been utilized as a place of exile and a port in the storm, beginning in Roman times when the Emperor Augustus banished his adulterous daughter, Julia, to a villa there. Located on Italy's west coast, midway between Rome and Naples, Ventotene's port sheltered ships during inclement weather. Researchers theorized that the wrecked ships had been in search of a safe harbor but never made it. The vessels all downed fairly close to each other in space, but did so years apart in actual time.

The well-preserved Ventotene shipwrecks contained several trade items for the Roman Empire. Ship contained 1^st century AD Spanish amphorae filled with fish sauce, and ship two contained 1^st century BC amphorae of Italian wine. The fifth site contained North African amphorae containing fish sauce. That site dates back to the 5^th century AD. Researchers believe this evidence concludes that Rome, once a great exporter of produce to its colonies, gradually transformed into an importer of those very same goods.

With the help of Carabinieri divers, the team lifted cargo from the five Ventotene shipwrecks and transported it to the museum of Ventotene. There, researches will desalinate, restore and display them. Archaeologists anticipate returning to the sites in 2010, when they will attempt to determine how deeply each wreck is buried beneath the sediment.

The Aurora Trust was founded to discover and understand the cultural heritage hidden on the seafloor. They seek to educate the public on the vital role that seas and oceans play in connecting different cultures through commerce and conflict.

Sources:

Archaeologists find graveyard of sunken Roman ships

Ventotene Islands, Italy 2009 Project

Photos and video of the Ventotene Shipwrecks