Roman galleon from 1st Century BC found in Bay of Cartagena

Archaeologists have found a Roman galleon dating back to the first century BC, in near-immaculate condition in the Bay of Cartagena, in Spain.

Madrid, Sept 6 : Archaeologists have found a Roman galleon dating back to the first century BC, in near-immaculate condition in the Bay of Cartagena, in Spain.

Experts believe the ship could have been used to transport wine, oil and various perishables.

Wine was drunk in Rome in huge quantities over 2,000 years ago and the annual consumption for the city was in region of 1.5 million hectolitres, and the size of the galleon, it had space for up to 1,500 amphorae - Roman bottles - in the hold, made it appropriate for transporting huge volumes of wine, they said.

The team from Cartagena's national archaeological museum and underwater investigation centre (MNAM-CNIAS) discovered the ship at a depth of about a hundred metres off the coast of Cartagena.

They said it had similar characteristics to a vessel found off the coast of La Vila Joiosa a year ago.

They said the discovery was exciting as it came just after two boats and a number of anchors thought to be more than a hundred years old were found on the seabed.

According to local daily Think Spain Today, the team plans to conduct more underwater investigations in a bid to bring Cartagena's maritime history, which dates back more some three thousand years, to the surface.

ANI