Stone anchors found near Sicily have been called an important archaeological find

Ancient artifacts found on the seabed

An important archaeological find has been discovered on the seabed near Italian Sicily. Ancient stone anchors have been found off the coast of Syracuse.

During a joint operation between the Maritime Directorate of the Sicilian Region and the diving unit of the Guardia Fiscal in Messina, two stone anchors from the Greek Archaic period (800-480 BC) were discovered on the seabed off the coast of Syracuse (Sicily).

As he says Arkeonewsthe operation to check and survey the underwater area was initiated by a report from a citizen who informed the relevant authorities about the presence of two stone anchors on the seabed of Syracuse.

During the study, two stone anchors from the Archaic period (probably late Iron Age) were discovered at a depth of 15 meters and documented using a 3D photogrammetric study.

The two archaeological finds were located next to each other on the rocky seabed, Arkeonews reports. The first find is an egg-shaped anchor (gravity with a distal hole), and the other is a stone anchor with three holes (gravity and socket) measuring about 70 centimeters.

These two artifacts will be recovered in the coming days to later be exhibited at a local museum, Arkeonews notes.

“This kind of intervention,” says Regional Councilor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, “confirms the importance of cooperation between public institutions and law enforcement agencies in the protection of cultural heritage. Also of great value is the collaboration of private individuals, which over the years has inadvertently led to the discovery of numerous artifacts with the sole common goal of restoring and enhancing our cultural heritage.”

Divers from the Maritime Directorate and the Guardia Fiscal diving unit in Messina inspected and documented a large offshore area of ​​approximately 250 square meters to confirm the presence of further archaeological evidence.

This type of intervention emphasizes the importance of citizen participation in the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. Sensitivity to submerged heritage, through police involvement, allows citizens and public administrations to strengthen their relationships with the common goal of protecting cultural heritage.