Roman Ship Graveyard Discovered Off Italian Coast

Archaeologists scanning the seabed almost 1000 feet below the coast of the Italian island of Ventotene discovered five perfect-condition ancient Roman ships, dating from the first century BC to the fifth century AD, that lay in such a manner as to be described as a ship "graveyard", Reuters reports.

According to chief Aurora Trust archaeologist Timmy Gambin, speaking to Reuters, the ships remained unmolested for so many years because of the sheer depth to which the sank. Only with modern technology and the increased popularity of treasure hunting in the region will such discoveries be made. From Reuters:

Gambin said the wrecks revealed a pattern of trade in the empire: at first Rome exported its produce to its expanding provinces, but gradually it began to import from them more and more of the things it once produced.

In Roman times Ventotene, known as Pandataria, was used to exile disgraced Roman noblewomen. The Emperor Augustus sent his daughter Julia there because of her adultery. During the 20th century, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini used the remote island as a prison for political opponents.

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