Italian maritime archaeologists working off the Calabrian coast in southern Italy have announced the discovery and preliminary exploration of an exceptionally well-preserved Hellenistic merchant ship. The vessel, sunk approximately 2100 to 2200 years ago (2nd century BCE), rests at 300 metres depth on the floor of the Ionian Sea1. This exceptional depth, long considered an obstacle to maritime archaeology, has here become an advantage: the absence of light and the low temperature of deep waters created a preservation environment that has maintained the ship's hull, the organic materials of its cargo, and part of its rigging in a state that defies time.

A shipwreck at 300 metres depth

The discovery of the wreck results from an acoustic survey campaign conducted as part of the Italian national "Archeomar" programme for mapping underwater archaeological heritage. A deep-towed sonar had identified in 2021 a seabed anomaly corresponding to a regular elevation on the Ionian Sea floor. The 2024-2025 mission, using a state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of operating at these depths, made it possible to document the wreck in detail.

Hellenistic amphorae from Aegean workshops of the 2nd century BCE
Hellenistic amphorae typical of Mediterranean trade in the 2nd century BCE. The cargo of the Calabrian wreck consists mainly of wine amphorae of Aegean origin, similar to these examples. (Credit: Zde, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

The ship, estimated at approximately 25 metres in length, is preserved over two-thirds of its length. The keel and lower strakes of the wooden hull are intact below the sediment line, protected by the cover of their own cargo. Archaeologists were able to document rare construction details: the mortise-and-tenon assembly type of the hull planks, the spacing of the frames, and the shape of the stempost, all confirming a construction in the eastern Hellenistic tradition dating to the 2nd century BCE. Dendrochronological analyses on wood samples taken by the ROV should refine the date of the ship's construction2.

A cargo of Aegean wines

The cargo is dominated by hundreds of transport amphorae stacked in the hold. Analysis of their forms, stamps, and clay fabrics has made it possible to identify examples from several major Aegean wine production centres: Knidos (southwestern Turkey), Rhodes, and possibly Kos. The presence in a single cargo of amphorae from several different production centres is characteristic of Hellenistic redistribution trade, in which merchants consolidated goods from multiple sources before transporting them to western markets.

Well-preserved ancient iron anchor from a Mediterranean underwater wreck
Ancient iron anchor from a Hellenistic Mediterranean wreck. A similar anchor, in excellent preservation, was found among the equipment of the Calabrian wreck, testifying to the reality of long-distance maritime trade in the 2nd century BCE. (Credit: Marsyas, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons)

Chemical analyses of organic residues preserved in several amphorae revealed traces of wine, pine resin (used to waterproof the containers), and in one case what might be honey or beeswax, perhaps used as a preservative. These results add to our knowledge of wine preservation practices in Hellenistic maritime trade, a domain where ancient sources are not very precise3.

Trade routes of the Hellenistic Mediterranean

The location of the wreck off the Calabrian coast places it on one of the main maritime routes connecting the eastern Mediterranean to the west. Ships coming from the Aegean had to round the "heel" of Italy before heading north toward Rome and the markets of Campania, or south toward Sicily and the Carthaginian world. The Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria, associated in ancient mythology with the monsters Scylla and Charybdis, was a dreaded passage that many captains preferred to avoid by taking the coastal route via Calabria.

Ionian coast of Calabria in southern Italy on ancient maritime routes
The Ionian coast of Calabria in southern Italy follows one of the main ancient maritime routes connecting Greece, Rhodes, and the Aegean to the ports of Campania and Rome. The Hellenistic wreck rests at 300 metres depth in these waters. (Credit: Arcangelo Marano, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)

Beyond the amphora cargo, the team also documented ship equipment and personal effects of the crew. A well-preserved iron anchor, bronze rigging elements (pulleys, shroud rings), black-glaze tableware in the Campanian tradition, and a set of lead balance weights complete the picture of life on board and commercial practices of the 2nd century BCE.

Full exploration of the wreck, currently limited to images and non-destructive sampling by the ROV, is planned for future campaigns. The question of possible physical excavation of the site, which would require saturation divers capable of operating at 300 metres, is under discussion among Italian archaeologists and the relevant ministries. The wealth of information accessible by remote manipulation alone has led some to advocate keeping the site intact, protected by its depth, reserving sampling for the most priority scientific studies.