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Gozo Phoenician shipwreck

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Gozo Phoenician shipwreck
Gozo's Xlendi Bay, where the shipwreck was discovered.
LocationOff the coast ofXlendibay in Gozo
RegionBay of Xlendi, off the coast of Gozo.
TypeSite of a sunken ship
History
BuilderPhoenicians
Founded7th century BC
AbandonedSank late 7th century BC
PeriodsIron Age
CulturesPhoenician
Satellite ofPhoenicia
Associated withCrew of the merchant vessel
Site notes
Excavation datesExcavation dives directed by Timmy Gambin since discovery in 2007.
Archaeologists
  • Timmy Gambin (Project director)
  • Jean Christophe Sourisseau
  • Maxine Anastasi[1]
ConditionConservation, sampling and study are ongoing
OwnershipMalta

TheGozo Phoenician shipwreckis a seventh-century-BCshipwreckof aPhoeniciantrade ship lying at a depth of 110 meters (360 ft). The wreck was discovered in 2007 during asonarsurvey off the coast ofMalta'sGozo island.Since 2014 it has been the object of a multidisciplinary project led by University of Malta along with many other national and international entities. The Gozo shipwreck archaeological excavation is the first maritime archaeological survey to explore shipwrecks with divers beyond a depth of 100 meters (330 ft).

Historical background[edit]

One of two Cippi of Melkart which allowedJean-Jacques Barthélemyto decipher the Phoenician language.

The Phoenicians, athalassocraticpeople known for trading and shipbuilding, had a long-standing presence in, and influence on the history of, the Maltese islands. From the middle of the second millennium BC, the Phoenicians undertook seaborne traffic from their mainland cities on the coast of modern-dayLebanon;their far-reaching trade routes spanned from theBritish IslestoMesopotamia.The Phoenicians built trade outposts and colonies throughout theMediterraneanto facilitate the supply and storage of raw materials and goods.[2][3]Sometime after 1000 BC, Phoenician traders colonized the Maltese islands that were conveniently located at the center of the Mediterranean betweenEuropeandNorth Africa.[4][5]They inhabited the area now known asMdinaand its surrounding town ofRabatwhich they calledMaleth.[6][7]The area came under the control ofCarthageafter thefall of Tyrein 332 BC.[5][8]Punicinfluence remained on the Maltese islands during the early Roman era, as demonstrated by the famous second century BCCippi of Melqartthat were pivotal in deciphering thePhoenician language.[9][10]

Phoenician shipwrecks[edit]

There are about six Phoenician shipwreck sites datable from the eighth to the sixth century BC in the Mediterranean. Two of these are located off the coast of Palestine/Israel, at a depth of ~400 meters (1,300 ft),[11]three in shallow waters facing the Spanish coast and one in France.[12][13]

Location and discovery[edit]

The Gozo shipwreck was discovered in 2007 by a team led by University of Malta during a seabed survey around 900 meters (3,000 ft) off the coast ofXlendi,on the Maltese island ofGozo.The team detected sonar anomalies at a depth of 110 meters (360 ft), prompting further investigation that led to the discovery of a sunken Phoenician trade ship with its well-preserved cargo dating to the seventh century BC.[14][15][16][17]The Gozo shipwreck archaeological excavation is the first maritime archaeological survey to explore shipwrecks beyond a depth of 100 meters (330 ft).[17]Further archaeological research off the coast of Malta was conducted by the ANR'sGROPLANproject in collaboration with theUniversity of MaltaandTexas A&M University.[2]

Description[edit]

The shipwreck is 12 by 5 meters (39 by 16 ft). Archaeological artifacts are buried under up to 1.8 meters (5.9 ft) of sediment.[14]The ship remains and its upper layer of cargo lay exposed 1 meter (3.3 ft) above a relatively flat seabed of coarse sand; it consists ofquern-stonesandearthenwarecontainers used to transport wine, olive oil, and other consumables.[14][16][17]Quern-stones, used to grind grains, were stored at both ends of the ship; they were discovered in pristine condition, indicating that they were never used and were destined for trade. Studies show that the grinding stones were made from volcanic rock sourced inPantelleriainSicily.[17][18]The wreck site is very well-preserved, save for some minor damage caused by local fishermen's bottom-fishing techniques.[14]

Cargo and artifacts[edit]

Digital mapping and high resolution imaging of the site and of the visible artifacts was done in 2014 by an international team of scientists. The survey was performed using a mannedsubmarinethat was deployed to produce a 3D photogrammetric image, which helped identify at least seven types of ceramic vessels.[16][17][19]In 2016–2017, exploration of the wreckage resulted in the recovery of 12 objects, including uniquely shaped urns that appear to have been made on the island of Gozo.[16]Divers supervised bymaritime archeologistsfrom the Department of Classics and Archaeology at theUniversity of Maltaalso recovered six intact ceramic objects numerous ceramic shards, among which wereTyrrhenian-style amphoraetypical of Italy and westernSicily.[16]

Artifact recovery challenges[edit]

The extraction of artifacts from other parts of the ship proved difficult due to the depth of the shipwreck site. To facilitate artifact surfacing, amooringdead weight was sunk to anchor the researcher's ship close to the shipwreck site. It took experienced divers eight minutes to reach the site, where they could stay for no longer than 14 minutes; surfacing objects took an additional two and a half hours.[16][17][20]

Conservation[edit]

In June 2021, Maltese culture ministerJosé Herreradiscussed options to lift the shipwreck from the bottom of the sea, and exhibit it at the planned Gozo Museum or another, standalone museum. Another option the minister discussed is to leave the ship in place as an underwater tourist attraction.[21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Exploring an archaic shipwreck off Xlendi Bay, Gozo".Phoenician Shipwreck.Retrieved7 October2020.
  2. ^ab"Phoenician shipwreck located off coast of Malta".Biblical Archaeology Society.12 October 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 8 December 2019.Retrieved7 October2020.
  3. ^"Phoenician wreck is underwater world of discovery".Times of Malta.Archivedfrom the original on 7 October 2020.Retrieved7 October2020.
  4. ^"Notable dates in Malta's history".Department of Information – Maltese Government. 6 February 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 25 November 2009.Retrieved6 February2008.
  5. ^abAshby, Thomas (1915)."Roman Malta".Journal of Roman Studies.5:23–80.doi:10.2307/296290.JSTOR296290.
  6. ^"Mdina & the knights".Edrichton. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.
  7. ^Cassar, Carmel (2000).A concise history of Malta.Msida:Mireva Publications. pp. 53–55.ISBN1870579526.
  8. ^Terterov, Marat (2005).Doing business with Malta.GMB Publishing Ltd.ISBN978-1-905050-63-5.Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2015.Retrieved1 July2015.
  9. ^The Art Journal: The illustrated catalogue of the industry of all nations.Vol. 2. Virtue. 1853. p. vii.Archivedfrom the original on 4 September 2015.Retrieved15 February2014.
  10. ^de Pasquale, Carmen (2009)."The Malta Cippus in the Louvre".Treasures of Malta.16(1). Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.Archivedfrom the original on 14 January 2021.Retrieved14 January2021.
  11. ^Ballard, R. D.; McCann, A. M.; Yoerger, D.; Whitcomb, L.; Mindell, D.; Oleson, J.; Singh, H.; Foley, B.; Adams, J.; Piechota, D.; Giangrande, C. (1 September 2000)."The discovery of ancient history in the deep sea using advanced deep submergence technology".Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers.47(9): 1591–1620.Bibcode:2000DSRI...47.1591B.doi:10.1016/S0967-0637(99)00117-X.
  12. ^Ballard, Robert D.; Stager, Lawrence E.; Master, Daniel; Yoerger, Dana; Mindell, David; Whitcomb, Louis L.; Singh, Hanumant; Piechota, Dennis (2002)."Iron Age shipwrecks in deep water off Ashkelon, Israel".American Journal of Archaeology.106(2): 151–168.doi:10.2307/4126241.ISSN0002-9114.JSTOR4126241.S2CID193054065.
  13. ^Abdelhamid, Selma."Phoenician shipwrecks of the 8th to the 6th century B.C. – Overview and interim conclusions".Marburger Beiträge zur Archäologie, 2.
  14. ^abcdGambin, Timmy (October 2017).Between east and west – The Phoenician shipwreck off Gozo(PDF)(Report). University of Malta – Department of Classics & Archaeology. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 6 November 2020.Retrieved6 November2020.
  15. ^Gambin, Timmy (November 2018).The Phoenician shipwreck off Gozo – 2018 season(PDF)(Report). University of Malta – Department of Classics & Archaeology. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 6 November 2020.Retrieved6 November2020.
  16. ^abcdefArchaeology, Current World (25 April 2018)."Excavating a Phoenician shipwreck off the coast of Gozo, Malta".World Archaeology.Archivedfrom the original on 5 November 2019.Retrieved7 October2020.
  17. ^abcdef"Exploring an archaic shipwreck off Xlendi Bay, Gozo".The Phoenician Shipwreck Project.Archivedfrom the original on 11 August 2020.Retrieved7 October2020.
  18. ^"Divers discover Phoenician treasures in ancient shipwreck".The Telegraph.Retrieved7 October2020.
  19. ^"Continuano le ricerche sul relitto fenicio di Gozo, Malta".Ocean 4 Future(in Italian). 29 January 2019.Retrieved7 October2020.
  20. ^Gambin, T.; Drap, P.; Cheminsky, B.; Hyttinen, K.; Kozak, G. (2018)."Exploring the Phoenician shipwreck off Xlendi bay, Gozo: A report on methodologies used for the study of a deep-water site"(PDF).Underwater Technology.35(3). Society for Underwater Technology: 71.doi:10.3723/ut.35.071.ISSN1756-0543.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 9 November 2020.
  21. ^Balzan, Jurgen (6 July 2021)."Herrera sets sights on lifting 2,700-year-old Gozo shipwreck".Newsbook.Retrieved23 July2021.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gozo_Phoenician_shipwreck&oldid=1229288993"