Starting in 2021, SDSS began a new series of annual campaigns for the mapping and documentation of these deep-water sites. During these campaigns, photogrammetry surveys were carried out over the extensive archaeological areas on the seabed of Punta Tracino, Cala Levante, and off Punta Gadir, where explorations conducted by SDSS divers led to the discovery of hundreds of additional amphorae scattered along the slope at depths of up to 130 meters. The ambitious project to document, inventory, characterize, and catalog all the archaeological finds in this stretch of the seafloor is still ongoing.
PANTELLERIA
THE CONVOY
Underwater Secrets of Pantelleria
2200 years ago, at the time of the First Punic War, something quite big must have happened along the NE coast of Pantelleria Island, of which we have no record in historical sources.
Between 2001 and 2012, four archaeological sites were found on the seabed between Gadir and Tramontana coves, along a little more than a mile of coastline. The four sites are characterized by Punic amphorae of the same types.
In one of the four sites, a treasure made up of 4,000 Punic bronze coins was found in 2011 by Chicco Spaggiari, one of the founders of SDSS, during an exploration dive. All of the coins, except one, are of the same type, featuring a female head on one side and a horse protome on the other.
The Convoy That Never Reached Sicily
The fact that nearly all the coins are of the same type has led archaeologists to believe they were not meant for everyday trade, but for an institutional payment. In other words, the hoard was likely intended to pay Carthaginian soldiers or mercenaries.
Researchers suggest that these remains may belong to a Carthaginian convoy transporting military supplies to troops fighting in Sicily, a convoy that was intercepted and violently destroyed by an enemy force.
Underwater Secrets of Pantelleria
2200 years ago, at the time of the First Punic War, something quite big must have happened along the NE coast of Pantelleria Island, of which we have no record in historical sources.
Between 2001 and 2012, four archaeological sites were found on the seabed between Gadir and Tramontana coves, along a little more than a mile of coastline. The four sites are characterized by Punic amphorae of the same types.
In one of the four sites, a treasure made up of 4,000 Punic bronze coins was found in 2011 by Chicco Spaggiari, one of the founders of SDSS, during an exploration dive. All of the coins, except one, are of the same type, featuring a female head on one side and a horse protome on the other.
Mapping the Deep Sites of Pantelleria
Next to this text, you can see a glimpse of our work. The image is a single frame extracted from the three-dimensional photogrammetry of “Area C”, one of the three areas we are finalizing. This photogrammetry is built from tens of thousands of high-resolution photographs, which, once processed by specialized software, create a precise 3D model of the entire artifact-strewn seabed. The model allows us not only to take exact measurements but also to perform a wide range of analytical studies.
The frame shown here covers less than one-tenth of this area, which stretches 350 meters in length and roughly 100 meters in width, at depths ranging from 90 to 130 meters below the sea surface.
Take a close look… how many amphorae can you spot in this frame?
Join the Project!
The documentation of Pantelleria’s deep archaeological sites is still very much underway. Completing this challenging work will require at least a couple more field campaigns. The results of the studies and the archaeologists’ conclusions on these extraordinary sites will be published in a dedicated monograph.
SDSS is a volunteer-driven non-profit.. Our field campaigns are entirely self-funded, made possible through the generous support of contributions, sponsorships, and donations, allowing us to explore, document, and preserve submerged history.”
By joining us with a donation to the SDSS project, you can directly support the continuation of the research and studies. You’ll also help bring to life videos, stunning visualizations, and publications that virtually raise another fascinating secret from the depths to the surface.
Become part of the exclusive SDSS Expedition Sponsor Circle!