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New Roman Shipwrecks Bust Ancient Sailing Theory

Roman finds are deepest in Mediterranean

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 29, 2012 4:33 PM CDT

(Newser) – Greece has tracked down the deepest ancient shipwrecks ever found in the Mediterranean, and they're challenging what we thought we knew about the Romans. While experts previously believed that ancient ships held to the coastlines for safety—instead of venturing into the open sea—the two wrecks disprove that theory, Greek officials say.

The 2nd-century wrecks, found in waters about a mile deep, were discovered off Greece's west coast during the search of the site of a planned Greek-Italian gas pipeline. The AP reports that radar and robot subs turned up pottery and ballast stones in addition to the ships' remains.

Broken ancient pottery from the wreck of a 3rd century AD Roman-era ship found off the western coast of Greece is seen.
Broken ancient pottery from the wreck of a 3rd century AD Roman-era ship found off the western coast of Greece is seen.   (AP Photo/Greek Culture Ministry)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
crf
May 29, 2012 8:11 PM CDT
The ships were, like, shipwrecks ..... Perhaps the old theory is correct!
Cat-Lover
May 29, 2012 6:45 PM CDT
This also goes to prove that ships are no safer today than in the 2nd century C.E.
HarryBeaver
May 29, 2012 6:41 PM CDT
From Homer's Odyssey 12.80 - Circe: "One ship alone, one deep-sea craft sailed clear, the Argo, sung by the world, when heading home from Aeetes' shores. And she would have crashed against those giant rocks [the Clashing Rocks] and sunk at once if Hera, for love of Jason, had not sped her through."
 

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