SARANDA, Aug. 21 – An ancient shipwreck near the Butrinti site was discovered within recent days by the Hercules ship and the modern technology of the RPM Foundation.
The ship was preparing the first part of an underwater archaeological map of the Albanian coastline when its electronic robot discovered a group of amphora that are believed to belong to an ancient ship from the 6-5 centuries B.C.
The experts believe that the new discovery will bring a renewed stimulus to the continuation of research work along the Albanian underwater coastline.
Albanian head of the project, Adrian Anastasi, thinks that the ancient ship may still have some other items belonging to a shipwreck. But the great number of amphora found in the area makes one think it is a shipwreck, he said.
Auron Tare, Albanian coordinator of the project and former head of the Butrinti park, now head of the Albanian National Trust foundation, thinks that “If this discovery proves true then we have a very important discovery not only for Albania but for the whole Mediterranean because such ships belong to late archaic and early classical period, which are very rare.”
U.S. archaeologists and their Albanian counterparts believe that the number of amphora normally shows belong to a ship sunk centuries ago.
But such a thesis needs to be proved by experts analyzing the amphora taken out by the Hercules team, affiliated with the International Nautical Archaeology, a well-known institute specialized in underwater exploration based in Texas.
RPM is based in Key West Florida.
It is worth noting that a lead object is very near the amphora and they believe it could also belong to the shipwreck.
The amphora taken out of water will be analyzed in detail and that require a month of work not only in Albania but also in other countries with more advanced examining technology.
If it proves to belong to that period then it will urge the RPM and other collaborators to resume work to check for the shipwreck, which may be the fourth found in the Mediterranean.
The amphora was taken to the archaeological museum in Durres.
In a first view archaeologists compared it to a similar one belonging to what they called scientifically as a Zeest Protothasien one of the 525-475 B.C., or to the late archaic and early classical Greek period.
The amphorae was a ceramic of light brown color with 1.65 centimeters of thickness, 67.3 centimeters of length, 40.7 centimeters of width and 13.34 centimeters of mouth diameter. With two handles and a 9.8 centimeters of a toe, it was likely used either for wine or oil, according to experts.
The shipwreck would give data and indication of its destination, naval archaeology of that period, history and serve as a multidisciplinary object to the Albanian underwater archaeology, which is still considered scientifically at the infant age.
Albanian archaeologists will continue cooperation with the RPM Nautical Foundation to compile the underwater archaeological map of the whole coastline. That deal may be reached by the end of the year.
This is a very important project not only for the Albanian archaeology but it may also promote underwater tourism.
Anastasi also hopes that Porto Palermo turns into an underwater archaeological museum and research center like others in the Mediterranean.
