The Roman wreck of Capo Mulini rewrites the history of trade in the Mediterranean

New results from studies on Roman wreck of Capo Muliniin the stretch of sea between Acireale and Aci Castello. The conclusion of the new monitoring and research campaign, conducted by Superintendency of the Sea of ​​the Sicilian Regionhas in fact made it possible to acquire elements that could rewrite part of the history of trade in the Mediterranean during the Roman Republican age.

Archaeometric analyzes indicate, in fact, that a significant portion of the load of amphorae transported by ship may have been produced in the area of Strait of Messina. Dating between the last quarter of the 2nd century and the mid-1st century BC, the Capo Mulini wreck represents one of the most important archaeological contexts in the Mediterranean for the study of commercial traffic of time.

New search campaign

Ten years after the first investigations, the new campaign has predicted the three-dimensional photogrammetric survey of the site and the recovery of some sample finds such as amphorae, brick elements, samples of lead from the anchors and the bilge pipe, which will be subjected to further archaeometric investigations.

Underwater operations

The operations, made particularly complex by the depth of the site and the strong currents, were conducted by the Superintendency of the Sea with the support of naval vessels and the Coast Guard dive unit.

Scientific coordination

The field activities were coordinated and directed by the archaeologist of the Superintendency of the Sea Roberto La Roccascientific manager of the intervention, with the collaboration of the honorary inspectors of eastern Sicily Giamichele Iaria, Leonardo Leonardi e Fabio Portella. “The underwater archaeological research conducted so far – said the councilor for cultural heritage and Sicilian identity Francesco Paolo Scarpinato – opens up new scenarios on the origin of goods and the trade routes of Sicily in the Roman Republican age. Protecting the submerged heritage means producing new knowledge, enhancing our history and strengthening the cultural identity of the Island”.

Value of the data collected

“The success of the intervention – underlines the superintendent of the Sea Emanuele Turco – confirms the high operational capacity of the Superintendence of the Sea and the effectiveness of the collaboration between institutions and specialist professionals. The data collected will offer a significant contribution to the reconstruction of the navigation and commercial traffic that affected eastern Sicily in that era”.