#amphoras

Fourth Century Roman Shipwreck Found off Gallipoli, Italy

According to the ministry, the site has been under constant monitoring by Italy’s financial police to “protect the site from possible looting and to preserve its enormous scientific value.”

The wreckage of a believed fourth-century AD Roman ship was found off the coast of Gallipoli, Lecce in southern Italy, Italy’s Culture Ministry revealed on February 3.

“In June 2025, off the coast of Gallipoli, a wreckage of a large Roman honorary ship was discovered, perfectly preserved on the back, with its load of amphoras destined for the transport of garum, one of the most precious commodities of antiquity,” the ministry posted to its social media.

Garum, a fermented fish sauce, was a popular condiment in the Roman period.

According to the ministry, the site has been under constant monitoring by Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza (GDF), to “protect the site from possible looting and to preserve its enormous scientific value.”

“The Garum cargo gives a direct testimony to commercial traffic in the Roman Mediterranean and opens new perspectives for research on the economy and daily life of the imperial age.”

The GDF also announced the find in a post to X/Twitter, adding that “the discovery was made during routine maritime surveillance operations using the latest and most sophisticated onboard equipment.”

Underwater excavation estimated at €780,000

The Superintendencies of Brindisi, Lecce, and Taranto have been working to secure funding for “documentation, archaeological survey, and safety measures for the wreck,” the news outlet Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) reported.

According to ANSA, the project was estimated to cost about €780,000 by Italy’s High Council for Cultural Heritage and Landscape.

The planning of the underwater excavation will be undertaken to ensure that the ship’s conservation, and that of any artifacts found onboard, will be “conducted in accordance with the principles of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.”

By Miriam Sela-Eitam.

Zip zap

Been playing in the world of ArtFight since Anthro Con. So self indulgent art of one of my favorite Pokémon, Ampharos. They look like a big weird sock puppet. Also RIP to the one I had on my Pokémon Crystal when the coin battery died. I shall miss you Sockman.

All of the Ransei ladies are gay and you can’t convince me otherwise.

2,300-Year-Old Shipwreck Filled with Wine Jars Found off Egypt

An engineer was conducting a regular survey of the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt’s coast when he noticed something in the water.

It turned out to be a 2,300-year-old shipwreck, according to an Aug. 5 news release from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The ancient ship was discovered less than a half-mile off the coast of El-Alamein — which was an important commercial region during the third century BC, Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said in the release. The find gives more insight into Egypt’s role as a center for trade, economy and tourism in ancient times.

Archaeologists at the site discovered a number of ancient artifacts in the ruins of the ship, including wood from the boat, hundreds of pieces of pottery, and a number of jars that were imported from Rhodes, a Greek island, officials said.

The Greek jars, also known as amphoras, were used for storing and transporting wine, according to archaeologists. Experts said the ship’s contents indicate that it was a merchant ship.

They were found on a sunken island next to the ship, confirming that the wreck probably occurred because it collided with the underwater landmass.

Officials said excavations of the ship will continue.

El-Alamein is about 170 miles northwest of Cairo.

By Moira Ritter.

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A joint Albanian-American underwater archaeology project says it has found amphoras that are at least 2,500 years old in the Ionian Sea off the Albanian coast, which might yield an ancient shipwreck.

The research vessel Hercules of the RPM Nautical Foundation said Friday they had found 22 amphoras — a two-handled jar with a narrow neck used for wine or oil — 40-60 meters (yards) deep scattered around the seabed close to a rocky shores near the Karaburun peninsula.