Final
report from Bob Silvers on the 2005 research expedition on the
R/V Hercules.
The outcome of the 2005 RPM
Nautical Foundation and Institute
of Nautical Archaeology joint expedition has produced some
amazing results. This page is a summary of some of the highlights
of the season. There are many pictures and explanations by the
Nautical Archaeologist.
To take a look at the five areas surveyed
with the Research Vessel Hercules, click on the image representing
each location.
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SICILY:
Near the Egadi Islands on the western tip of Sicily we searched
for ship wrecks from the first Punic War. A sea battle involving
about 400 slave ships between Roman and Carthaginians navies
likely produced many wrecks to find about 200 years ago. |
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TURKEY:
The Rhodes channel has been a busy sea lane since man
first plied the seas. We found many targets on the sonar
imagery and with the ROV we found 9 wrecks, 5 of which
are of significant historical interest dating back as
much as 100 BC. |
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CYPRUS:
Sonar mapping was conducted in Cyprus near what is thought
to have been a Bronze Age copper port. Cyprus is loaded
with history and could hold many interesting finds. |
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ITALY:
Along the eastern coast of Italy we conducted sonar mapping
and found some interesting targets needing more scrutiny.
One such target appears to be an ancient Roman sea port
including a sunken seawall and stacks of marble slabs
underwater in an area that may have been the staging area
for the port to either import or export marble. |
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MALTA:
The winter port for Hercules (Malta) is no less filled
with historical impetus as the other sites we have visited.
During the 2005 season we found many targets to look at
in the future with the ROV in front of the historical
port of Valletta. |
