Ancient Roman Artifacts Discovered by Police Divers Off Sardinia Coast

Police officers conducting a routine underwater safety operation off the coast of Porto Rotondo in Sardinia, Italy, have discovered ancient Roman artifacts on the seabed. The discovery was announced by the Sassari Police Headquarters in late August.

While on a routine dive, the officers, based in Olbia, Sardinia, first spotted a piece of broken terracotta. This initial find prompted a second dive, during which they uncovered largely intact vessels.

Following the discovery, divers conducted a more detailed search of the area. This resulted in the recovery of three intact terracotta artifacts, including a transport basin, along with other minor items. These artifacts have been recorded and handed over to the competent Archaeological Superintendent.

Images from the find show police divers examining the seabed and ancient pottery submerged in the waters. One image depicts an intact amphora nestled among seagrass on the seafloor, while another shows a police diver inspecting a large, encrusted vessel.

Amphorae were historically used in the ancient world to transport various materials, such as wine, olive oil, and grain. Preliminary analysis suggests the artifacts may date from the period spanning the fall of the Roman Republic to the beginning of the Roman Empire, specifically between the latter half of the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. Experts hypothesize that the items may originate from regions such as Lazio, Campania, or the Iberian Peninsula.

Specialists are set to examine the recovered vessels to determine their precise age and origin. Researchers will also investigate whether these artifacts are part of a larger archaeological site and if further discoveries await.

This is not the first such discovery in Italy. Earlier this year, Italian authorities announced the recovery of a Roman merchant shipwreck laden with amphorae in the Ionian Sea, dated to the late Imperial era.