Underwater Treasures

July 27, 2009
Underwater Treasures
Archaeologists have discovered the wrecks of five ancient ships, and their cargo is in perfect condition
By Laura Slot

Researchers have found five ancient ships on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy. One of the ships is more than 2,000 years old and the others are about 1,600 years old. The ships carried vases filled with wine, olive oil, fish sauce and other products for trade. Kitchen tools, bowls and glass objects were also onboard. The wrecks are a real treasure, because all their cargo is in perfect condition.

"It is like an underwater museum," said Annalisa Zarattini, who is an expert in underwater archeology in Italy. The ships were probably trying to find shelter from a storm close to Rome and Naples, but then sunk.
Hidden in the Deep
The ships still look good after thousands of years because they sank in a deep part of the sea, Zarattini said. Here, the ships were protected from strong underwater currents so they weren't damaged. The wrecks were also safe from treasure hunters, who probably couldn't dive that deep. Almost none of the vases and other goods broke, because the ships didn't turn over in the storm.

The ships sank while sailing along an ancient Roman trading route. Traders shipped goods from distant places such as Africa and Spain to Italy. Foods such as fish sauce were a delicacy in ancient Rome.
The researchers found the wrecks using sonar technology, which uses soundwaves to scan the bottom of the sea for objects. The vases, bowls and tools they found in the ships will be studied and displayed in museums in Italy. The researchers will continue to search for more shipwrecks, trying to preserve them before treasure-seeking divers plunder the wrecks and

Michael-The treasure of the shipwreck under the water hasn’t been damaged. These treasures are about 2000 years old. To be undamaged is a miracle. Luckily the treasure hunters didn’t steal the things. The things in the ship are now the treasure of ancient history. The ancient things should be put into the museum because maybe someday the treasure hunters will find them.teal valuable treasures.