Police Divers Uncover Ancient Roman Artifacts in Sardinia Waters

Police officers conducting a routine dive in Italy have uncovered ancient Roman artifacts on the seabed, dating back approximately 2,000 years. These artifacts were found by divers off the coast of Porto Rotondo in Sardinia, a Mediterranean island in Italy, according to Cover Images.

The Sassari Police Headquarters announced this discovery in late August. The officers, based in Olbia, Sardinia, noticed ancient pieces during an underwater safety operation. Initially, they spotted a fragment of terracotta which led to further exploration, revealing largely intact vessels on the second dive.

“The careful dredging action allowed the identification and subsequent recovery of three intact terracotta artifacts, specifically a transport basin, along with other minor items,” officials said.

These artifacts were recorded and are now available to the Archaeological Superintendent for examination.

Pictures capture police divers scrutinizing the seabed and the submerged ancient pottery off Sardinia’s coast. Among the images, an intact amphora can be seen nestled in the seagrass on the seafloor, and a diver inspects a large, heavily encrusted vessel.

Amphorae, in ancient times, were used to carry various materials such as wine, olive oil, and grain. Police reports suggest the artifacts likely date to the era between the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire, specifically from the second half of the 1st century B.C. to the 1st century A.D.

Authorities believe the artifacts might originate from regions like Lazio, Campania, or the Iberian Peninsula and plan to conduct detailed analyses to ascertain their precise age and geographical origin.

Further examination by specialists aims to determine if these vessels are part of a larger archaeological site and whether more relics remain undiscovered in this area.

Italy has had remarkable discoveries such as these before. Earlier in the year, a Roman merchant shipwreck was found in the Ionian Sea, still holding its amphorae cargo, dated to the late Imperial era, approximately from 284 A.D. to 641 A.D.