The official recovery operations of the Greek ship from the classical era, known as “Gela II”, have begun. This significant discovery, dating back to the 5th century BC, is located in the seabed near Bulala, close to the port of Gela in Sicily, and has been of interest since it was first identified by a local diver in 1990.
The recovery of this ancient vessel is part of a joint effort led by the Soprintendenza del Mare of the Sicilian Region, with the collaboration of specialized companies such as Atlantis of Monreale and Cosiam of Gela. The project has a budget of approximately 500,000 euros and is expected to take around 270 days to complete the underwater archaeological work.
Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, the Regional Councillor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, emphasized the significance of this operation for the city of Gela and its surroundings, highlighting how the sea in this region has yielded numerous invaluable archaeological treasures, contributing to the reconstruction of local history.
The discovery of this second ship complements “Gela I”, another vessel recovered in the same area, significantly enhancing the cultural and tourist heritage of the region.
In collaboration with the Soprintendenza for Cultural Heritage of Caltanissetta and the Parco Archeologico of Gela, the first conservation treatment, consolidation, and restoration activities for “Gela II” will take place at the museum facilities in Bosco Littorio, a space that had already hosted the exhibition of the first ship, “Gela I”, last year. This center will once again play a key role in the preservation of the recovered materials and artifacts.
“Gela II” was the subject of an initial systematic investigation in 1995, and since then, archaeologists have unearthed important artifacts, including Corinthian helmets and orichalcum ingots, which are now part of the permanent collection of the Archaeological Museum of Gela (we published an article about the orichalcum discovery on our Spanish Edition back in 2015).
This new recovery effort includes the collaboration of the Gela Harbor Master’s Office and the company Eni Rewind. Roberto La Rocca leads the project as the director of operations, while Pietro Selvaggio is the sole responsible party for the procedure.
The project is part of a broader plan to enhance Sicily’s underwater heritage, aiming to boost cultural tourism in the region. The first phases of the underwater excavation began in July, when the remains of the ship’s structure and its cargo were unearthed.
The ship, which measures about 15 meters long and 5 meters wide, was discovered at a depth of 6 meters and will be transported for restoration to the same museum where it will be permanently displayed.
It is expected that in the coming days, the dismantling and extraction of the ship’s remains will be completed, allowing the restoration process to begin in the laboratories at Bosco Littorio, a key site within the Parco Archeologico di Gela.
Once all activities are completed, “Gela II” will become a central piece in the Museo delle Navi di Gela, where its exhibition will enhance the region’s cultural and educational offerings.
- Share on:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Identity of the Occupants of the Tomb of Persephone in Vergina Revealed: They Are Not Philip II and His Wife
An international team of scientists has unveiled new findings about the enigmatic Tomb I, known as the Tomb of Persephone, located in the Great Tumulus of Vergina, Greece. This monument,…
The Papyrus Containing the Only Word Personally Written by Cleopatra Granted Tax Favors to an Influential Roman
In the display cases of the Egyptian Museum of Berlin lies a fragile piece of papyrus that speaks not of turbulent romances or epic battles, but of something more mundane…
The Exceptionally Well-Preserved Remains of a 5,000-Year-Old Woman from Caral’s Elite Found in Peru
A team of archaeologists discovered the burial of a high-ranking woman at the Áspero archaeological site, an ancient fishing town of the Caral civilization (3000–1800 BCE), located in the province…
The Difference Between Terror and Horror in Film and Literature
A quick Google search is enough to plant the seed of doubt. Type in “the best horror movies of 2024” and dozens of results appear—but with a subtle difference: most…
Oldest Bone Spear Tip in Europe was Made by Neanderthals
An international team of scientists has found a bone spear tip dating back between 80,000 and 70,000 years in the Mezmaiskaya cave, in the North Caucasus (Russia). What’s extraordinary about…
A Magnetar of Unknown Origin, Capable of Destroying Atoms a Thousand Kilometers Away, Is Crossing the Milky Way
A rogue magnetar, named SGR 0501+4516, is crossing our galaxy without a clear trace of its birth, according to a study published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. This object,…
The Carthaginians Were Not Mostly Descended from Levantine Phoenicians, Reveals a Surprising Genetic Study
For centuries, the expansion of the Phoenician-Punic civilization across the Mediterranean was attributed to massive migrations. However, a recently published genetic study reveals that their success was largely due to…
A “Bestiarius” in York: The First Archaeological Evidence of Combat Between a Gladiator and a Lion in Roman Times
Bite marks found on a skeleton discovered in a Roman cemetery in York have revealed the first archaeological evidence of combat between a human and a lion in ancient Rome.…
The Abyss of Barnard 68, a Great Dark Spot in the Firmament
On the vast canvas of the cosmos, where starlight typically reigns supreme, there are regions in which darkness not only persists, but dominates. One of them is Barnard 68, a…
Evidence of Ancient Ritual to “Kill” the Dead and Destroy Their Tombs in a Final Feast 4,000 Years Ago Found in Crete
On the island of Crete, famous for its Minoan palaces and legends like the labyrinth of the Minotaur, an international team of archaeologists has discovered something even more intriguing: how…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
