Find Details
Archaeologists identified a 16th-century merchant vessel off 's coast, marking it as the deepest shipwreck in French territorial waters at over 2.5km deep. The discovery was made during a French Navy seabed exploration in March.
The wreck, named Camarat 4, contained approximately 200 earthenware pitchers and 100 plates, alongside ship's anchors and cooking pots, all preserved due to the extreme depth's unchanged conditions since the 16th century.
Cultural and Historical Significance
The ceramics featured the "IHS" and geometric patterns, suggesting they were made in 16th-century , Italy. This find offers insights into the region's craftsmanship and the role of Christianity in early modern Europe.
Researchers aim to create a 3D digital reconstruction of the ship and collect samples for further studies, enhancing understanding of 16th-century Mediterranean navigation and trade. The site promises to enrich the existing corpus of 16th-century wrecks in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.