12th-13th century Wreck

© Area Marina Protetta Porto Cesareo

The wreck of an ancient ship has been found off the coast of Salento, in the southern tip of the Puglia region in Italy, in 2015. The ship is made almost entirely of wood and measures 18 meters by 4,5 meters. A local fisherman made the discovery and notified the authorities who have sent divers to investigate. The wreck lies in the Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area near to a medieval fishing village.

Both Porto Cesareo Marine Protected Area and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Salento have worked together to carry out an assessment of the shipwreck, which is believed to date back to the 12th or 13th century. Further investigations could increase archaeological knowledge on the role played by the region in maritime trade at the time. 

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