Italian Police Discover Ancient Roman Artifacts Off Sardinia’s Coast

Italian police officers on a routine dive recently stumbled upon ancient Roman artifacts lying on the seabed off the coast of Porto Rotondo in Sardinia. These artifacts are believed to be around 2,000 years old, according to a report by news agency Cover Images.

The Sassari Police Headquarters announced the find in August, following a discovery made by officers based in Olbia, Sardinia. The officers were conducting an underwater safety operation when they first noticed a piece of broken terracotta. This prompted them to conduct another dive, leading to the discovery of largely intact vessels.

The divers conducted a thorough search of the area, which resulted in the identification and recovery of three intact terracotta artifacts, including a transport basin and other minor items.

Officials have registered these findings with the competent Archaeological Superintendent. Photos from the discovery show police divers examining the submerged pottery, while one image reveals an intact amphora nestled in the seagrass on the seafloor. Another photo depicts a police diver inspecting a large, heavily encrusted vessel.

In ancient times, amphorae served as containers for transporting various goods, such as wine, olive oil, and grain. Preliminary analyses suggest that these artifacts possibly date back to the period between the second half of the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. They might originate from regions like Lazio, Campania, or the Iberian Peninsula.

Researchers aim to examine the vessels to determine more about their age and place of origin. They also want to find out if these items are part of a larger archaeological site, potentially indicating that more artifacts are yet to be discovered.

Such discoveries are not rare in Italy. Earlier this year, authorities found a Roman merchant shipwreck with its cargo of amphorae in the Ionian Sea, dating to the late Imperial era, which stretched from approximately 284 A.D. to 641 A.D.