7th century BC pottery excavated from a depth of 780 metres - film

Italian archaeologists have excavated ancient ceramics from a depth of 780 metres, the age of which has been determined to be the 7th century BC! The researchers took the relics from the sea bed in the Strait of Otranto.

A load of magnificent Greek pottery from the 7th century BC was excavated by Italian archaeologists. The vessels were retrieved from an extreme depth of 780 metres using a remotely operated robotic ROV. According to Italian media, the excavated artefacts came from a Corinthian shipwreck and were supposed to have ended up on the tables of prominent citizens of Greater Greece (Magna Grecia).

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These magnificent monuments represent a unique find and are of great scientific importance – said Culture Minister Dario Franceschini.

The site was located in 2019 by workers laying a gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Italy. After the discovery was reported,archaeologists from the National Board of Trustees for Underwater Cultural Heritage took over the case. The researchers carried out a thorough reconnaissance of the discovered wreckand then prepared the excavation of the first part of the cargo.

This magnificent discovery, more than 2,700 years old, will allow archaeologists to look into the past and gain a little more insight into the lifestyle of the inhabitants of Magna Grecia. As well as food, among the objects discovered are amphorae, jugs and wine cups. All the excavated objects will be carefully examined by Italian scientists in order to to get as much information as possible. Some of the artefacts, in turn, will go on display at the museum after being conserved.

Without doubt, this discovery gives us historical data that speaks of the oldest phases of Mediterranean trade at the dawn of Magna Graecia. It is an intact cargo that sheds light on the first phase of Greek colonisation in southern Italy. Thanks to the excellent state of preservation, we have the chance to find out what they were transporting – explained archaeologist Massimo Osanna.

Further extraction

So far, researchers have excavated twenty-two pieces of beautiful pottery from the Corinth region from a depth of 780 metres. After examining the artefacts, the scientists determined their age to be the first half of the 7th century BC. However, this is not the end of the story. Because archaeologists plan to return to the depths and excavate the remaining objects that have been located around the wreck.

The Strait of Otranto, from where archaeologists excavated the artefacts, separates the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas and links the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea.

*Welcome to two of our readers who spotted an error in a previous version of the news item. After an internal editorial board and quick maths tutorials the matter was rectified ;)))