Still recovering ship rams from the Egadi Islands

Last year, the waters around the Egadi Islands were in the news after two bronze ship rams had been recovered, one of which was identified as being Carthaginian (see: Two more bronze ship rams recovered).

[Picture from the Archaeological News Network, Credit: RPM Nautical Foundation]

Two more rostrums have been retrieved from the sea this season, raising the counter to sixteen Roman and two Carthaginian rams. Besides these great finds, various other artifacts were brought to light, among which we count 68 Graeco-Italic, four Punic amphorae, and four plates.

Unusual was this year’s discovery of an iron sword that must have belonged to a soldier of either the Roman or the Carthaginian army. This sword is 70 centimeters long, and the blade is five centimeters wide. A closer study and restoration are required to gather more precise information about this rare piece.

It will be interesting to visit the Museum of the Battle of the Egadi in nearby Favignana to look at all the recently exposed testimonies left behind after the successive Punic Wars fought in the waters around the Egadi Islands. They fill a separate room, accompanied by spectacular multimedia elements.