![]() The technology he has introduced to the world of underwater archaeology will survey an area of up to 50 to 60 metres across in minute detail and produce plans which can been drawn for archaeological purposes. It is now proving its worth in much deeper waters. It was tested out in shallow water during his work on Pavlopetri - the world’s oldest known underwater city. ![]() The discovery of these rams will help us learn more about the size of these ships, the way they were built, what materials were used as well as the economics of building a navy and the cost of losing a battle.”ĭr Henderson is using sector-scanner technology developed for the marine offshore industry to map the site in even more detail. Cast on the bow of the ship these rams were not just used as weapons, they were there to protect the ship. We now have physical archaeological data which will significantly change our understanding. But most exciting of all is the growing collection of ancient battle rams of which there were only three in the world before this survey began.ĭr Jeffrey Royal said: “Much of what we knew about ancient naval battles and ancient warships was based on historical text and iconography. An ongoing multi-beam survey together with remotely operated vehicle (ROV) verification is producing an accurate map of the undersea geography of the site as well as an astonishing array of shipwrecks, weapons, armour, helmets. The research vessel ‘Hercules’ bristles with some of the very latest underwater survey technology. Now, working with RPM Nautical Foundation we have discovered 11 rams.” Local fishermen brought up a bronze helmet from the same area and together with the discovery of the first ram my hypothesis became theory. To prove my hypothesis I carried out a series of dives and discovered 50 anchors. Professor Tusa said: “The stories these divers told led me to speculate where this battle might have taken place. But stories told by old Sicilian divers that lines of ancient lead anchors were lying on the seabed, off the Egadi Islands to the west of Trapani off Sicily’s northwest coast, guided Sebastiano Tusa, Professor of Pre-history and Soprintendenza del Mare, Sicily to the battle site. Previous attempts to find the exact location had been focused in shallow water close to the island. The Romans lay in wait trapping the Carthaginians and blocking off their sea route in a sudden attack. According to the literature the battle was short - just a few hours long. Historical documents placed the battle near the island of Levanzo, west of Sicily. What makes this project so exciting is that this was an important engagement between the Romans and the Carthaginians which ultimately provided the Romans with a springboard to go on and take over the whole of the Mediterranean.” Bronze helmets, amphora, weapons and most importantly ancient bronze battle rams are being lifted from the seabed and preserved.ĭr Henderson, from the Department of Archaeology, said: “It is quite surprising that despite all the literary references and the importance of naval battles and sea power in the ancient world we have never found a battle site before. It is littered with the relics of this decisive war. Working at depths of between 40 to 120 metres they are surveying an area which currently stands at some five square kilometres.
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