In April, 1999, Michael Sedge, Mediterranean Editor for Scientific American Discovering Archaeology magazine, received an invitation to view a new archaeological site, only 500 yards from the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa. What he found was a graveyard of ancient ships that Italian authorities now call โ€œthe Pompeii of maritime archaeology.โ€
โ€œAt that point,โ€ explains Sedge, โ€œarchaeologists had merely revealed the tip of the mystery. In subsequent years, additional research and digging would bring to light 16 Roman ships, hoards of cargoes, and both human and animal remains. It would also become a personal passion, as I followed the project, discovery-after-discovery, for three years. In THE LOST SHIPS OF PISA (published by ibooks on October 1, 2002), I take readers on the same exciting archaeological journey I experienced , while answering the questions: how, why, and what if?โ€
How was this so-called โ€œmaritime Pompeiiโ€ found?
It began in 1998 when the Italian state railroad, Ferrovie dello Stato, was digging the foundation for a new building that would house the command and control center for train movements along Italy's western coast. The work stopped abruptly when, to the astonishment of all, the haunting remains of a wooden, Roman ship came to light after being buried for 2000 years.
The ironic aspect of this is that the site had previously been declared free of historical remains. A team led by professor Stefano Bruni, who ultimately became the director of the Pisa archaeological project, had been called in to test the site, according to Italian law, only a few months before, and there probes had been within feet of this and other shipsโ€"but just far enough to prove negative.
What could have happened in Italy 2000 years ago to entomb an entire port, including 16 Roman ships?
There are several theories, but experts agree that it was probably a series of events, rather than a single disaster. For example, storms certainly accounted for some of the sinkingsโ€"particularly those that lost their cargoes. Others may have sunk after being abandoned in the ancient port.
Located only 500 yards from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, how did the city's ancient port simply disappear, and become forgotten?
Ancient Pisa was much different, geographically, thank it is today. It was constructed in a maze of canals and two major rivers: the Arno and the Auser. In this respect, it was more like modern-day Venice.
In his book, Istorie Pisane, sixteenth-century historian Raffaello Roncioni talks about a harbor known as the Porto delle Conche, that was formed by a secondary branch of the Auser River. In the vicinity of the Pisa dockyards, the description tells how the tributary turned to the right off the major artery, flowing into the Arno to create a small lake.
Researchers believe that archaeological discovery is, in fact, the ancient Porto delle Conche. Other historical records including maps by Leonardo da Vinci, support this theory.
The environment and geographical nature of the area in which the settlement of Etruscans and Romans Pisa was born and developed is now very different from what it was in ancient times. As a result of deposits accumulating in the Arno, the coast is now at a considerable distance, and the characteristics of the surrounding countryside have been significantly altered by the gradual expansion of marshland. The Auser River, for example, no longer exists. There were radical reclamation projects undertaken in the Middle Ages, at which time areas, such as the ancient port, were filled with construction materials, as buildings were demolished.
Satellite surveys, which allow researchers to track the city's ancient river-beds and waterways, provide support for the concept of a Venice-like Pisa that, ultimately, reduced the canals, lakes, and port area into a single river, the Arno. With time, and decrease in political importance of Pisa, the existence of a Porto delle Conche was forgotten.
Tell us about the ships. What were their use and condition?
So far, 16 vessels have been identified. Some still remain below the earth's surfaceโ€"to prevent decay once they are exposed to the atmosphere. Others are in various phases of preservation, awaiting removal, and still others have been excavated and taken to a nearby laboratory for final restoration. Ultimately, they will be displayed in the Ships of Pisa Museum, housed in the ancient dockyards established by the famed Medici family in the 1500s.
The ships, and vast array of relics, date from the end of the first century BC to the late fifth or early sixth century AD. Eight vessels are nearly fully intact. These include the remains of three cargo ships, three boats that were probably used on the river, one oared vessel, and the remains of one ship discovered in an upside-down position. Most of the other wrecks have been located by probes, but are not yet in the excavation stage.
The so-called Hellenistic Ship, was named based of early Greek remains foundโ€"pottery, lamps, glassware--found in its surroundings area. Ship โ€œAโ€ is a cargo ship of about 30 meters, still intact with planking and framing connected by wooden pegs, as well as bronze nails.
Each ship has a story to tell in the archaeological puzzle, as do the items found in and around them.
What are some of the items found?
When I first visited the site, in 1999, there was what appeared to be a river of amphorae and other artifacts. More than 1,000 large, plastic boxes were filled with artifacts, ranging from Greek and Roman pottery and coins to bones and jewelry. Clothing, shoes, and, naturally, shipboard instruments were all found. Ship B, another cargo ship, for example, contained amphorae that had carried walnuts, chestnuts, peaches, cherries, and plums for export throughout the Mediterranean. Vases, glass beakers, ropes, mats and leather products surrounded the 11.7 meter-long Ship C. Here too was found a coin, perhaps from the ancient mint at Bithynia.
You wrote an article recently for Archaeology Odyssey magazine in which you discuss the ancient Greek and Roman tradition of using amphorae as coffins for infants. Did this stem from your research in Pisa?
Yes. The remains of a newborn babyโ€"lacking pelvic girdle and lower limbsโ€"was found in an amphora. According researchers at the University of Pisa, it is assumed that the amphora was used as a small coffin for burial.
Afterwonderingabout how common this practice was, I contacted Dr. John Hall, a noted expert on burial practices in Greek and Roman times, at Otago University in New Zealand. He pointed out that this was a common occurrence in ancient times, since nearly 30 per cent of newborns died within five days. It was for reasons of practicality more than anything else โ€"they simply used what was on hand.
Archaeologists believe the amphora with the baby's remains was loaded on a ship ready to be taken to a nearby island-cemetery, when a storm ripped through the harbor, sending the body to a watery grave.
Is it true that researchers found 443 right shoulder bones from pigs, and only 59 left shoulder bones? If so, why the difference?
Yes. Even in ancient times, prosciutto-ham (made from the upper leg of pigs) was enjoyed by populations throughout the Mediterranean region. Because pigs traditionally rest on their left side, the meat of the right side was more tender and desired.
We understand there was a unique skeleton found. The so-called sailor and dog that has been widely discussed
An entire film could be developed around the find. Near the underside of the first-century ship labeled โ€œBโ€ was found the fully intact skeleton of a man. Within the outstretched arm of the so-called โ€œsailorโ€ was the skeleton of a small dog, which appeared to have been a bassethound.
Theory has it that, during a storm, the ship in which the sailor and his dog were aboard, overturned, tossing them into the rough waters. As the man rescued the animal, the vessel came down, pushing and trapping him and the dog to the bottom of the harbor; where they would remain for 2000 years.
What comes next: For the ships of Pisa, and you as a writer?
The ships of Pisa is an archaeological work-in-progress. Many pieces of the puzzle are still to be found, and many of the theories proven. What secrets will be revealed as the ships, one by one, are extracted, no one can say for sure. The archaeological site of ancient Pompeii took centuries to excavate, and brought forth vast artifacts of Greek and Roman life. When this โ€œmaritime Pompeiiโ€ will be fully explored is, at present, unknown.
What it will ultimately reveal is, similarly, a mystery that time will solve. I will continue to follow the developments and the research. No writer knows what projects awaits them. Perhaps, four or five years from now, I'll be working on a follow-up title. Perhaps something like โ€œThe Truth of The Lost Ships of Pisa.โ€
How can people order your book?
It is available in bookstores throughout the United States, UK, and Australia, or online from Amazon.com.