CA 'FOSCARI UNIVERSITY OF VENICE STUDIES THE MARBLES AND THE AMPHORES OF THE DAE37 WRECK

On 16 August 2020 the Multipluto abyssal ROV dived on the Dae37 wreck in order to film the load of marble transported by a Roman ship, which sank a few miles northwest of the island of Gorgona, at a depth of 280 m.

The archaeological mission was born from a collaboration between Guido Gay, of the Azionemare Foundation and Dr. Carlo Beltrame, professor of Maritime Archeology at the Ca ' Foscari University of Venice, as part of a study project of the wrecks with loads of old Roman marble in southern and central Italy.

We returned with the Daedalus equipped catamaran to the wreck, already discovered in 2018, together with Dr. Elisa Costa, underwater archaeologist, to inspect the cargo again and collect, for study and sampling purposes and thanks to the authorization of the Superintendence of Pisa and Livorno, two amphorae of the Dressel 2-4 type, but of different shapes.

The images taken by the Multiputo clearly showed the squared blocks of marble, probably coming from the quarries of Carrara, and in particular a large rough block 8 m long, 3.5 wide, more than 2 high and weighing over 100 t. and other squared blocks for about a further 150 t.The amphorae, landed in Capraia for the desalination and conservation operations, indicate that it was a ship from the Republican era (2nd century BC - 1st century BC) which presumably came from the port of Luni and was headed for Rome.

In the photo from left to right: Elisa Costa (Ca ' Foscari University - Venice), Guido Gay (Azionemare ), Nawal Menad (restorer - Capraia).