Archaeologists discovered shipwrecks, one of which 2,000 years old
Archaeologists have discovered three shipwrecks off Tunisian coast, one of them being about 2,000 years old, Arkeonews reports
“A team of archaeologists from eight countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea came together to scrutinise the sunken shipwrecks lying at the bottom. The researchers co-ordinated by UNESCO have discovered three new shipwrecks,” the publication says.
One wreck dates to between 100 BCE and 200 CE and two date from around the turn of the 20th century. The researchers presented their findings today in a press conference at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
From the material it is known that the shipwrecks are located near Keith Reef – a particularly treacherous region of the Skerki Bank. Keith Reef makes it challenging for ships, both ancient and modern, to navigate at certain points where it almost touches the Mediterranean’s surface. The new research clearly shows that some ships were a failure.
“The shallow reef is situated in one of the busiest maritime routes in the Mediterranean, which has been used for millennia. It’s no surprise that ships have sunk there, or that looters have found it to be a lucrative hunting ground,” summed up the Arkeonews journalist.
