CULTURE: Cyprus discovers its first undisturbed Roman shipwreck

Cyprus has found its first undisturbed Roman shipwreck loaded with ancient cargo off the island’s southern coast which could unlock the region’s sea trading history, the Cypriot antiquities department said on Thursday.

---

The wreck, located off the Mediterranean island’s southeast coast near the popular beach resort of Protaras, was spotted by divers from a University of Cyprus archaeological research team.

“The site is a wreck of a Roman ship, loaded with transport amphorae, most probably from Syria and Cilicia (Asia Minor),” said the antiquities department in a statement.

“It is the first undisturbed Roman shipwreck ever found in Cyprus, the study of which is expected to shed new light on the breadth and the scale of seaborne trade between Cyprus and the rest of the Roman provinces of the eastern Mediterranean,” it added.

The Department said it has secured the necessary funds to cover the cost of the preliminary in situ investigation, as soon as possible but there were no further details about the wreck.

It said a team is already working on the documentation and protection of the site.

“This project also marks a milestone for Cypriot archaeology, because it is the first time that an underwater archaeological project is fully funded by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works,” the statement said.

Cypriot authorities also welcomed the mobilisation of volunteers in discovering and protecting an important historical site saying it “sends an optimistic message regarding the protection of cultural heritage by the Cyprus society”.

ALSO READ: www.financialmirror.com/news-details.php