1,800-year-old shipwreck carrying 40 tons of artifacts

Diver Gideon Harris discovered the wreck of a Roman ship laden with marble cargo in the Mediterranean Sea, off the northwestern coast of Israel.

The shipwreck contained 40 tons of cargo, including marble column capitals. Photo: IAA

Harris discovered the shipwreck a few weeks ago and subsequently reported it to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Although archaeologists knew of the shipwreck's existence, they didn't know its exact location because it was buried under sand, Koby Sharvit, director of the IAA's underwater archaeology unit, announced on May 15th. It's likely that recent storms have exposed the wreck.

A Roman merchant ship carrying 40 tons of marble, including capitals, Corinthian columns decorated with elaborate botanical motifs, and marble columns approximately 6 meters long, is the oldest cargo shipwreck ever discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Based on the size of the architectural elements, the team of archaeologists calculated the size of the merchant ship and determined that it could have carried at least 181 tons of cargo, equivalent to the weight of about 30 adult male African elephants.

Considering the location and angle of the wreck, experts believe it encountered a storm in shallow waters and dropped anchor in a desperate attempt to avoid running aground. "Such storms often strike suddenly along the Israeli coast. And due to limited maneuverability, ships are frequently dragged into shallow waters and sink," Sharvit said.

The rest of the goods were transported on Roman merchant ships. Photo: IAA

Sharvit added that the marble shipment most likely originated in Türkiye or Greece and was traveling south, possibly to Alexandria in Egypt.

For years, archaeologists debated whether the ancient Romans imported fully manufactured architectural elements or only partially completed ones. New findings have ended this debate by indicating that goods left quarry sites as basic raw materials or partially processed items. Local artisans and craftsmen, or artisans from other countries, would then complete them at the construction site.

The team of experts is unsure where the marble columns will be installed, but it is likely they will be used to decorate a magnificent public building, such as a temple or theater.

Thu Thao (According to Live Science )

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