Archaeologists near the coast of Palermo, Sicily, were able to uncover an ancient roman shipwreck filled with amphorae that dates to the second century B.C.E. (Amphorae are basically jars that were used for transportation of wine and olive oil). The shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea gave archaeologists more information on the specifics of what was being traded and showed the ship must have been heading to some type of buyer. Being able to look through this wreckage allows archaeologists to know more about the life on board as well as the relationship between coastal populations.(Davis-Marks,1).

Finding archaeological sites under water comes with a lot of challenges compared to above ground. For instance, the overall visibility and light conditions is much worse than when digging during the daytime. This also is affected by the actual depth of the site. Along with this, the artifacts are usually buried underneath layers of sediment and trying to remove this is very time consuming and can possible stir up all the sediment which can cause even more problems. In class, we have also talked about how expensive underwater work may be which can be a result of the sheer amount of time going by as well as the equipment needed in order to successfully reveal the artifacts.

More information on the shipwreck from youtube:

At that time Sicily’s wine trade was one of the most profitable activities for entrepreneurs. There was even a Sicilian wine named Mamertino that was so popular Julius Caesar wanted it. The discovery of this shipwreck and what archaeologists were able to uncover shows us a period of peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean. Further research is being done in order to find more information about the specific trade routes that were used to transport all of these goods to different countries. Many ancient shipwrecks included items like these and archaeologists usually link these discoveries to wealth. In recent years, other shipwrecks have also been discovered showing similar items and now finding this brings in more information on the trading framework through out the Mediterranean Sea. “The Mediterranean continually gives us precious elements for the reconstruction of our history linked to maritime trade, the types of boats, the transport carried out,’’ said the superintendent of the sea of the Sicilian region, Valeria Li Vigni, who launched the expedition (Tondo,2). Many discoveries like this are being found in similar areas and this has been said to be one of the most significant in recent years.

More information on this topic: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-rome-shipwreck-roman-mediterranean-b2383807.html

Citations:

(1) Davis-MarksMagazine, Smithsonian. “Ancient Roman Shipwreck Loaded with Wine Amphorae Found off Sicilian Coast.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 30 July 2021, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-ancient-roman-vessel-near-sicily-180978313/.

(2) Tondo, Lorenzo. “Ancient Roman Ship Laden with Wine Jars Discovered off Sicily.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 28 July 2021, www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/ancient-roman-ship-discovered-off-coast-of-sicily.

Shown above is what to be believed as the largest ancient city found in Egypt. The site dates from the era of 18th-dynasty pharaoh Amenhotep III, who ruled between 1386 and 1353 B.C. and presided over an era of extraordinary wealth, power and luxury.  It has been buried under the sand for thousands of years and many archeologist believe this is one of the most significant discoveries since the finding of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb. This land was not only under-control of the pharaoh Amenhotep III but continued to be used by King Tutankhamun. Many items were preserved and uncovered during the excavation of this site. These include jewelry, colored pottery, amulets, and mud-bricks that show the seals of Amenhotep III. These discoveries shows what life was like during their wealthiest years.

For more info on what it meant to archeologist: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/lost-golden-city-ancient-egypt-aten-discovered#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Egyptian%20mission%20under%20Dr,Aten%2C%20ever%20uncovered%20in%20Egypt.

Finding this civilization was a major discovery in the world of archeology as many artifacts and ecofacts have been uncovered during the excavation time period. These items were able to tell stories of the past and gave us more information on what life was like nearly 3,000 years ago for these Ancient Egyptians. The mission expected to reveal untouched tombs with a variety of different items and that is exactly what they did. 22 bodies were found including both Amenhotep III and his wife Queen Tiye. Archaeological theory involves examining the cultural and symbolic significance of artifacts. The golden objects and other artifacts found in the city provide insights into the culture, beliefs, and practices of the ancient Egyptians who lived there. Along with this, the discovery of these objects created from a variety of materials, including gold gives us evidence of the wealth in this society.

After the son Akhenaten fled the city archeologist were able to study the area and see that four distinct settlement layers were shown. This means only four groups of people used this land until it eventually became untouched by humans. Because of this the city seems to be so well preserved. Many archeologist question why groups decided to leave but also see it as a huge gain as we can now study everything that went into these neighborhoods. Being able to now see the life these rulers left behind gives us so much more information on what lives were like during that time period. The ‘Lost Golden City’ has been one of the most significant findings in archeology and after years of excavation they are still uncovering more.

For more info on discovery as a whole: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/lost-golden-city-luxor-discovered-archaeologists-egypt

Video Showing Artifacts and Info on History: https://youtu.be/jTpoOh7D7AY

CItation:

“3,000-Year-Old ‘lost Golden City’ of Ancient Egypt Discovered.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 Apr. 2021, www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/lost-golden-city-ancient-egypt-aten-discovered#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Egyptian%20mission%20under%20Dr,Aten%2C%20ever%20uncovered%20in%20Egypt.

Blakemore, Erin. “‘lost Golden City of Luxor’ Discovered by Archaeologists in Egypt.” History, National Geographic, 26 Jan. 2022, www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/lost-golden-city-luxor-discovered-archaeologists-egypt.