Hull:
wood. Built:
Mediterranean; ca. 100 bce
The Albenga wreck is that of a sailing merchant ship that sank in 44°3N, 8°15E—about 1 kilometer east of Albenga, Italy, in the Gulf of Genoa. Lying at a depth of 40-42 meters, the wreck was first located in modern times when fishermen recovered amphorae from the site in 1930. The wreck was further examined in 1950, and systematic archaeological excavations under the direction of Dr. Nino Lamboglia began in 1957. Because the wreck settled into a bed of river silt, the hull and bottom were well preserved. Lamboglia's investigations revealed that the frames were of oak, the planking of soft wood, and the hull was sheathed with lead sheets fastened with copper nails. The main mast, which survived in situ, was square in section as far as the main-beam and round above. The Albenga ship's original carrying capacity has been estimated at 11,000 to 13,500 amphorae, implying a gross tonnage of as much as 500 to 600 tons in modern terms. Approximately 1,200 amphorae were recovered from the wreck, and a red residue found in many of the jars suggests that the main cargo was wine. The jars were wedged in place in the hold with pumice, rather than the usual brushwood. Some fine table wares, found stacked between the amphorae, were also part of the cargo, while coarser cooking pots, jugs, and storage vessels probably belonged to the galley.
Parker, Ancient Shipwrecks of the Mediterranean. Taylor, ed., Marine Archaeology. Throckmorton, Shipwrecks and Archaeology.
