A 2,500-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sicily has yielded a fascinating array of discoveries, including prehistoric tools and ancient anchors. The Superintendence of the Sea (SopMare), responsible for protecting underwater artifacts, announced the find on December 9th.
Prehistoric tools and ancient anchors were recently discovered during an underwater excavation of a 2,500-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sicily. The Superintendence of the Sea (SopMare), a Sicilian governmental organization responsible for protecting ancient artifacts in sea waters, announced the discovery Dec. 9. The shipwreck, which dates back to the fifth- or sixth-century B.C., was found near Ragusa, a city in southeast Sicily.
The excavation was carried out by the University of Udine and SopMare. It lasted three weeks and ended in September, SopaMare said, and also included help from the Italian Coast Guard, who provided technical and logistical support for the operations. SopMore said that the shipwreck was found 6 meters deep, buried by sand and rocks. The excavation revealed a hull built with the ‘on the shell’ technique, characterized by beam boards connected by inserts (tenons and mortise) which gave the structure a self-supporting function, the statement detailed. In a Facebook post translated from Italian to English, SopMare explained that prehistoric lithics – or stone tools – were found near the wreck, in addition to 'newer' anchors from the seventh century. A few meters from the wreckage two anchor cores were identified: two in iron of the type ‘T’ toppled, probably dating back to the seventh century A.D., and four lithics, from probably the prehistoric era, the statement explained. Thanks to underwater photogrammetry, it was possible to generate a three-dimensional model of the waste, while the samples collected will allow further paleobotanic analysis to further study of the materials used. The organization added that the discoveries 'witness the trade between Greece and Sicily'
SHIPWRECK ANCIENT TOOLS ANCHORS SICILY
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
500-year-old shipwreck could be São Jorge from Vasco da Gama’s final voyageA team of researchers believes they may have found Vasco da Gama's lost ship, the famed São Jorge, after 500 years.
Read more »
‘Guard eternal spring’: 500-year-old message on bowl piece reveals ancient trade linksArchaeologists in Israel made an unusual discovery: Chinese pottery that highlights trade relations between the two countries.
Read more »
2,500-year-old shipwreck and anchors discovered off coast of SicilyA shipwreck dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. was discovered earlier this year off the coast of Sicily, Italian officials said.
Read more »
6-year-old finds 50,000-year-old Neanderthal ax on beach, only second ever discoveredA six-year-old boy unexpectedly found an extremely rare Neanderthal Mousterian hand ax on a beach in Sussex.
Read more »
15-year-old charged with murder of 17-year-old in Hogan’s Creek neighborhoodA 15-year-old boy was arrested Thursday and charged with the murder of a 17-year-old in October in the Hogan’s Creek neighborhood, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Read more »
33-year-old charged with murder of 51-year-old man on Moncrief Road WestA 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with the murder of a 51-year-old man on Moncrief Road West in June, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Read more »