Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 16th-century merchant ship more than 2.5 kilometers underwater off the coast of southern France.
Credit: Drassm – Marine Nationale
This discovery marks the deepest find of its kind in this part of the Mediterranean or any other French waters. The ship is believed to have been traveling from northern Italy, carrying ceramics and metal bars, before it sank.
Although some modern household waste was found among its sunken cargo at a depth of 2,567 meters (over 1.5 miles) below sea level, researchers are enthusiastic about the potential insights offered by an archaeological site that has remained largely intact.
Arnaud Schaumasse, head of the culture ministry’s underwater archaeology department, has confirmed that this is the deepest shipwreck ever discovered in French territorial waters. The discovery occurred when an underwater drone unexpectedly located the sunken vessel near Saint-Tropez in southeastern France in early March, as reported by deputy maritime prefect Thierry de la Burgade.
Initially detected by sonar as a large object, further investigation was conducted using the drone’s camera and an underwater robot to capture high-quality images.
This exploration was part of a government initiative aimed at examining and monitoring France’s deep-sea resources, including minerals and internet cables.
According to AFP, archaeologist Marine Sadania noted that among the wreckage at what they have named “Camarat 4,” experts found 200 jugs featuring pinched spouts.
Credit: Drassm – Marine Nationale
Some of these jugs featured the monogram “IHS,” representing the first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek, or were adorned with plant-inspired or geometric designs.
These details suggest that the jugs originated from the Liguria region, now part of northern Italy. Experts also discovered approximately 100 yellow plates, two cauldrons, an anchor, and six cannons at the site. Additionally, modern waste items like a soda can and an empty yogurt pot were observed.
Despite this presence of contemporary debris, Sadania noted that “the site—thanks to its depth which prevented any recovery or looting—has remained intact as if time froze, which is exceptional.”
Over the next two years, she and her team plan to create a 3D digital reconstruction of the ship and extract samples for further study before returning them to public access.
Credit: Drassm – Marine Nationale
The French defense ministry, responsible for deep-sea exploration, has outlined a method for retrieving items from shipwrecks. Researchers can utilize a submarine robot equipped with pincers or arms, which is controlled via a long cable connected to a surface vessel.
The deepest shipwreck discovered by French authorities was located 2.3 kilometers below sea level near Toulon in 2019.
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This wreckage was identified as La Minerve, a French submarine that tragically sank in 1968 with 52 navy crew members on board just four minutes into a routine mission.
According to rfi, the wreckage was finally found in 2,370-metre-deep water 45 kilometres off the coast of Toulon by the US ship Seabed Constructor. The ship’s private owner, Ocean Infinity, used underwater drones to locate La Minerve.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
