RAG Vol 4 Issue 4.pdf

Archaeologists have discovered five 1,600-1,900 year old Roman cargo vessels off the coast of Ventotene, Italy, at a depth of 100-150 meters, using sonar techniques and deep-sea divers. The vessels are believed to have been seeking safe anchorage at the island, which was a safe haven from the turbulent Tyrrhenian Sea. The discovery was made by the Italian Ministry for Culture and the Aurora Trust.

Additionally, an underwater archaeological project off the coast of Cyprus led to the discovery of a second-century CE shipwreck in 2007, with a cargo of 130 amphorae of wine and possibly olive oil. The shipwreck was found in shallow waters off Cape Greco, and the cargo is believed to have originated from the south of France, southeastern Asia Minor, and the northeastern Mediterranean.

The waters off Cape Greco are of great interest to archaeologists due to a sea battle in 306 BCE, in which 100 vessels were sunk. Institutions involved in the work include the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the RPM Nautical Foundation, and the Thetis Foundation.

In other news, a visit to Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli, near Rome, revealed a spectacular site with a collection of villas, palaces, temples, gardens, and other monuments. The villa was built by Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD and features a network of underground passages, terraces, and monumental buildings. The site was rediscovered in the 15th century, and excavations have been ongoing since then.