Greece, ancient sunken Roman ship discovered with valuable amphora cargo

Important archaeological discoveries in Greece: between September and October 2020 (but the news was released by Greece’s Ministry of Culture only last January 19) a team of archaeologists from the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities (a counterpart of our Superintendence of Underwater Heritage) found in the sea around the island of Caso (in the southern Aegean, between Crete and Rhodes) a Roman-era wreck loaded with amphorae.

The discovery emerged as part of a campaign that focused precisely around the island of Caso (Kasos in Greek) and led to the discovery of three other wrecks in all, from different eras, the oldest of which dates back to the fifth century BCE.B.C.: these are other ships that carried amphorae, but according to the Greek ministry, it is the discovery of the Roman ship that is the most interesting, in terms of size, age (it dates back to the 2nd-3rd centuries A.D.) and contents. In fact, the ship was carrying a mixed cargo, much of it composed of so-called “Dressel 20” amphorae, or globular-shaped oil amphorae, made in ceramic workshops in present-day Spain, in the Guadalquivir area, and “African I” category amphorae, from Proncosularis Africa, and in particular from the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia.

Since 2019, the Ministry of Culture of Greece has been conducting underwater research around the island of Caso, as part of a three-year research project (2019-2021) that aims to identify, document and study the marine antiquities of a site, that of the island, defined as “a crossroads of cultures and an important center of navigation from antiquity to the present day.” During 2020, the team in charge of the research, led by archaeologists Xanthis Argyris and Georgios Koutsouflakis and composed of 23 scientists from different fields and specialized technicians, conducted more than 100 group dives totaling more than 200 hours in the water. At present, 80 percent of the area that the research aims to investigate has been covered. The research has several funders: public entities (the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Caso) and private entities (Terna Energiaki, Revoil and others).

Greece, ancient sunken Roman ship discovered with valuable amphora cargo

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