Sardaigne (Italie): Well-preserved ancient Roman ship found VIDEO
Nick Squires
Divers find the wreck of a Roman ship, loaded with terracotta roofing tiles, 2,000 years after it sank off the coast of Sardinia
The well-preserved ancient Roman ship was found in the strait that separates Sardinia from Corsica Photo: Polizia di Stato
A remarkably well-preserved ancient Roman ship has been discovered on the seabed off the coast of Sardinia. The 2,000-year-old wreck was found at a depth of 150ft by a specialised diving unit of the Italian police, working in collaboration with archaeologists, in the strait that separates Sardinia from Corsica.
The ship was carrying a load of terracotta tiles, which are also in a good state of preservation.
The ancient Roman ship was found at a depth of 150ft (Polizia di Stato)
The roof tiles, believed to have been produced in or around Rome, were packed into the hold of the vessel, which is 60ft long and 23ft wide.
The specialised diving unit of the Italian police collecting one of the tiles (Polizia di Stato)
The weight of the load may have contributed to the ship capsizing.
“It’s a real treasure,” said Rubens D’Oriano, from Sardinia’s archaeological department.
“The cargo is very well preserved and has enormous value to scholars. We’re really pleased about this discovery.”
The exact position of the wreck is being kept secret because of the threat of underwater looting.
“It’s a real treasure,” said Rubens D’Oriano, from Sardinia’s archaeological department.
“The cargo is very well preserved and has enormous value to scholars. We’re really pleased about this discovery.”
The exact position of the wreck is being kept secret because of the threat of underwater looting.
VIDEO = http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/2000-year-old-roman-ship-discovered-off-coast-sardinia-video-1507737