The Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus announced yesterday the discovery of a shipwreck off the coast of the town of Protaras, southeast of the island, by members of the Maritime Archaeological Research Laboratory of the University of Cyprus.
A team of archaeologists and university volunteers is already working on the documentation and protection of the site, led by Dr. Stella Demesticha, a professor of maritime archaeology, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Antiquities of the Cypriot University.
The shipwreck corresponds to a Roman ship loaded with amphorae carrying products, probably from Syria and Cilicia.
Amphorae are ceramic containers with two handles and a long, narrow neck, used since the 15th century BC to store and transport products such as grapes, wine, olives, oil, cereals, or fish.
This would be the first intact Roman shipwreck found in Cyprus, and its study will shed new light on the extent and magnitude of maritime trade between Cyprus and the other Roman provinces of the eastern Mediterranean.
In 2007, another shipwreck was found off the coast of the town of Mazotos, this time corresponding to the late Greek classical period of the mid-4th century BC, with a cargo of wine amphorae from Phoenicia.
Those who enjoy the history of the Roman Empire are well acquainted with the story of Antinous, the young man of extraordinary beauty who deeply captivated Emperor Hadrian. Not only…
At midnight on June 11, 1940, Italy declared war on France. This was something that had been anticipated for some time, despite a certain level of German discontent (Hitler saw…
In the year 869 AD, the Great Heathen Army of Danish Viking Ivar the Boneless was conquering the English kingdom of East Anglia, an earthquake followed by a tsunami ravaged…
In the summer of 2019, the temperature rose a few degrees in Greenland, but it wasn’t solely due to climate change; rather, it was because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s…
Letting go of the old to enter the new year is a metaphorical custom that is quite rooted in some corners of Italy, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. In the transalpine…
The last human sacrifices carried out in Rome—beyond considering the ludi gladiatorii as an acceptable adaptation of the concept—took place in 216 BC. It was during a colossal catastrophe that…
A recently published study reveals the existence of ancient fishing techniques at the Magdalenian site of Gönnersdorf, Germany, dating back approximately 15,800 years. This discovery resulted from a re-evaluation of…
Since May 2024, the State Office for Monument Conservation and Archaeology (LDA) of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, has been conducting archaeological excavations at the Hermes Fulfilment GmbH distribution center site in Haldensleben.…
The influence of Teotihuacán on Maya civilization during the Early Classic period (150-600 AD) has been widely debated, particularly concerning its role in the rise of the ajawtaak or Maya…
Researchers from the University of Bologna have unveiled how ancient cylinder seals played a key role in the development of writing in ancient Mesopotamia, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding…
A recent archaeological discovery in the small Belgian town of Pommerœul, near the French border, revealed an unusual mix of human remains from different periods within a single tomb. Using…
Climate change has played a crucial role in shaping societies throughout history. Recently, a study led by Chinese researchers has shown how these climatic changes may have significantly influenced the…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.