The Navy contributes to research in underwater archaeological sites

23/04/14

In these days, in the waters of the archipelago of the Pontine Islands, the minesweepers Viareggio, Numana and the coastal transport motorbike Caprera, have conducted a research and control activity of underwater archaeological sites in collaboration with Dr. Annalisa Zarattini, director of the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage of Lazio (Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism - MIBACT).

"The bottom of the Italian sea is the largest museum that exists, the largest museum we have", these are some of the words of Dr. Zarattini during the press conference held on Viareggio ship, docked in the port of Gaeta, and with which we started the operations around the islands of Ponza and Zannone, looking for archaeological finds from the Greek-Roman period, belonging to our priceless archaeological and cultural heritage.

The synergistic work of the crew and of the MIBACT representative allowed to monitor and document seven shipwrecks, with their loads of vases, amphorae and capitals.

Thanks to the ten-year agreement with the Navy as part of the "Archeomar" project, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism can survey underwater archaeological sites and verify their state of preservation, checking that they have not suffered disfigurements or damage .

Source: Military Navy