Ancient shipwreck found in Croatia

An ancient Roman shipwreck has been found in the waters of the Adriatic Sea, near the largest Croatian island of Krk. This is another such find made in Croatian waters in recent weeks.

An underwater researcher from Rijeka, Velimi Vrzić, has found the wreck of a sunken ship full of amphorae and period artefacts dating back to the Roman Empire. Its condition is described by Croatian media as “intact”. The whole thing was hidden under a layer of sand and sediment accumulated over the past centuries.

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The discovery is the result of studying the ancient routes ships used to sail from Dalmatia to Venice, as well as using modern technology. In fact, this is not the first such success to the credit of Velim Vrzić. He has previously found ancient shipwrecks sunken near the beach in the centre of Rijeka.

As the new site represents great scientific and historical value, it has been protected by the relevant institutions under the Ministry of Culture. In addition to reporting his findings, the researcher also provided the exact locations of the wrecks, all with the aim of ensuring effective protection against possible looting as soon as possible.

Initial insight and assessment by underwater archaeologists has identified the site as containing amphorae from Tunisia and the Middle East, dating to the 4th century. Later research will be able to determine the vessel’s trade route, as well as the exact cargo of the ship, which rests intact under a layer of silt and seabed.

^{Source: maritime.hr
Photo: Velimir Vrzić}