A new discovery has been made off the coast of Sicily: the remains of a 2,500-year-old vessel, which have helped reveal details of the rivalry between two ancient great powers.
The website of the University of Udine states that the artifacts were found in the waters near the town of Santa Maria del Focallo.
Specialists examined the ship’s hull. It was found that the hull plates were joined into a unitary whole, and the role of the reinforcing beams was limited to reinforcement only. The hull was assembled using “tooth and groove” joints. So far, the researchers have only made a photogrammetric documentation of the object to create a 3D model of it. Also, samples were taken for paleobotanical analyses.
Experts emphasize the extremely unstable general condition of the ship. Time, salt water and wood-destroying molluscs have had a devastating effect. Working with this object requires a lot of experience and caution.
Two types of anchors were discovered nearby. The first, in the shape of an inverted “T”, made of iron, dates from the 7th century. The second is a set of four stone anchors, probably from prehistoric times.
The ancient shipwreck took place in the 5th or 6th centuries BC. and represents one of the episodes of the rivalry between the Greeks and the Carthaginians for maritime dominance.
It was an era a century before Rome became the dominant power in the Mediterranean.
