Posted on 06/24/2015 8:48:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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 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.
They were probably going to be used in the construction of a villa for a senior Roman official or wealthy merchant, experts said.
Given the location of the discovery, archaeologists believe that the vessel was destined for Spain or the west coast of Sardinia, an official statement said, adding that the find was of great scientific value. The ships cargo was intact and packed just as it was at the moment of departure, the statement by the Sardinian authorities said.
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.
Its a real treasure, said Rubens DOriano, from Sardinias archaeological department.
The cargo is very well preserved and has enormous value to scholars. Were really pleased about this discovery. The exact position of the wreck is being kept secret because of the threat of underwater looting.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Oh, so now you’re suggesting I’m connected with this one as well.
If the timbers have disintegrated, and we are looking (in the photo) at the ceramic roof tiles as stored, does it seem that they were stored asymmetrically?
They are stacked in one direction on the left of the photo, in another orientation in the center, and that appears to be it. No corresponding balance on the right.
Could this have led to a fatal list?
Just curious.
(Moot if something perishable was loaded on the right of the photo, I know.)
I’d say no, they knew how to load their boats. Could have been standing on end with other materials holding them in from each side, but anything perishable (like the wood structure of the boat) would be all or mostly gone.
;’)
Not only that, but I'm sure you had an Altariel motive.
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