A highly significant archaeological discovery has come to light in the waters of Santa Maria del Focallo, in the municipality of Ispica, Ragusa province, Sicily. During an underwater excavation campaign, an interdisciplinary team led by the Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage Studies at the University of Udine and the Soprintendenza del Mare of the Sicilian Region uncovered a shipwreck dating from the 6th-5th centuries BC, along with four stone anchors and two iron ones.
The wreck, located just six meters deep, was buried under sand and rocks. Experts revealed that the ship’s hull was constructed using the su guscio technique, a method that involved joining the planks of the hull with dovetail joints and clamps, which gave the structure notable strength and self-sufficiency.
Furthermore, near the wreck, two sets of anchors were identified. The two iron anchors, of the inverted “T” type, are attributed to the 7th century AD, while the four stone anchors appear to be of prehistoric origin, extending the chronology of the found elements.
The campaign, which lasted three weeks and concluded in September, was supported by the technical and logistical assistance of the Messina Coast Guard Diving Unit and the Port Authority of Pozzallo.
Thanks to the use of advanced techniques such as underwater photogrammetry, the researchers generated a three-dimensional model of the wreck, enabling precise documentation of the discovery.
In addition, samples were collected for future paleobotanical analysis, which will provide key information about the materials used in the construction of the ship and the conditions of its environment.
This project is part of the fifth campaign of the Kaukana Project, an initiative launched in 2017 aimed at reconstructing the coastal and underwater landscape of the shoreline between Ispica, Kaukana, and Kamarina.
This collaboration between the University of Udine and prominent international research centers primarily aims to enhance the submerged cultural heritage.
The discovery of this wreck underscores the importance of Sicily as a strategic point in trade routes with ancient Greece.
The materials and techniques found not only provide insight into the nautical skills of the time but also highlight the intense commercial and cultural activity that flourished in the Mediterranean.
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