In a significant archaeological endeavour, the 5th-century Greek shipwreck known as Gela II is slated for recovery from the seabed near the port of Gela, Sicily. Identified in 1990, this ancient vessel has intrigued researchers due to its cargo, including Corinthian helmets and ingots of orichalcum—a metal historically considered second to gold in value.
The temple lies near Pozzuoli, in the volcanic Campi Flegrei region, about 16km (10 miles) east of Naples. Known in Roman times as Puteoli, the city was a bustling harbor where ships brought trade goods like grain from across the Roman Empire. Over the centuries, volcanic activity altered the coastline, submerging the ancient port district. By the 18th century, artefacts retrieved from the area hinted at a buried temple, though its precise location remained unknown.
In the waters of the Strait of Messina and the Grecanica Area in Calabria, Italy, there are many shipwrecks and submerged artefacts dating from ancient to modern times, with more still to be found. Andrea Murdock Alpini takes us on a journey of discovery to several wreck sites in the area and their history, as well as a beautiful underwater cave.
Climate change, ocean warming, impacts on marine biodiversity and the importance of marine protected areas (MPAs) prompted Greenpeace Italy to embark on an expedition to Liguria in late June 2024. Valentina Di Miccoli, a marine biologist on the expedition, tells the story.
The mosaics, featuring intricate geometric patterns and vibrant colours, are remarkably well-preserved. The find is considered part of a larger Roman villa or public building that was lost to the sea between the third and fifth centuries as underground magma chambers caused the surrounding terrain to fall.
Climate change is increasing the crisis of our seas, already under pressure due to several human activities. Rising temperatures are affecting and changing the underwater environment all over the world. The Mediterranean Sea, unfortunately, is no different from other seas. A group of specialists, coordinated by Greenpeace Italy, are monitoring the situation in the waters around Italy. Lorenzo Moscia reports.
The discovery was made near Capri’s famous Blue Grotto, a site historically used as a private bath by Roman emperors. Divers from the Naples Police Headquarters’ underwater unit located the wreck, which contained obsidian core material at a depth of around 40m. One of the cores, showing clear traces of chiselling and carving, measures approximately 28 x 20 x 15 cm and weighs almost 8kg.
Michael Menduno details the highlights of the various presentations given during the sixth biannual international Rebreather Meeting, which took place 1-5 May 2019 on Ponza Island in Italy.
In an unprecedented archaeological feat, the shipwreck known as "Marausa 2," which sank off Marausa, Sicily, in the late 3rd century, has been meticulously recovered from the seabed in its entirety. This marks the first instance where a Roman ship has been raised in its complete form, as opposed to being retrieved piece by piece.
Underwater archaeologists recently discovered the remains of an ancient Roman cargo ship off Rome's coast. This significant find goes beyond merely finding another shipwreck; it offers an intriguing glimpse into the complexities of ancient Roman seafaring, trade practices and the far-reaching influence of Rome's maritime network.
The Capo Corso 2 wreck was discovered in 2012 at a depth of around 350 metres between Sicily's Capo Corso and the island of Capraia which lies off Tuscany, Italy.
