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| Roman ship thrills archaeologists | Roman ship thrills archaeologists |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Roman ship, wrecked off the coast of Spain in the 1st Century AD, has been dazzling archaeologists with the array of historical treasures on board. | |
| Thirty metres (100ft) long and holding 400 tonnes, it is the largest Roman ship found in the Mediterranean. | Thirty metres (100ft) long and holding 400 tonnes, it is the largest Roman ship found in the Mediterranean. |
| Chief amongst the goods the ship was carrying were hundreds of jars of garum - a fish sauce which was a favourite condiment for rich Romans. | Chief amongst the goods the ship was carrying were hundreds of jars of garum - a fish sauce which was a favourite condiment for rich Romans. |
| It was accidentally discovered in 2000 by sailors whose anchor snagged a jar. | It was accidentally discovered in 2000 by sailors whose anchor snagged a jar. |
| The ship is in great condition and extremely accessible - lying in just 25m of water, and 1.5km (one mile) from the coast of Valencia. | The ship is in great condition and extremely accessible - lying in just 25m of water, and 1.5km (one mile) from the coast of Valencia. |
| "I am not going to say it was on the beach but almost," said Carles de Juan, who is co-director of the wreck's research team and was among the first divers to examine it. | "I am not going to say it was on the beach but almost," said Carles de Juan, who is co-director of the wreck's research team and was among the first divers to examine it. |
| We knew it was an important find, but had no real idea until now. It is an exceptional find Project co-director Carles de Juan It is believed that the vessel, 60% of which is now buried in mud on the sea floor, went down in a storm while sailing from Cadiz in southern Spain to Rome. | We knew it was an important find, but had no real idea until now. It is an exceptional find Project co-director Carles de Juan It is believed that the vessel, 60% of which is now buried in mud on the sea floor, went down in a storm while sailing from Cadiz in southern Spain to Rome. |
| Mr de Juan said that the storm must have been of immense strength to drive such a vessel so close to shore. | Mr de Juan said that the storm must have been of immense strength to drive such a vessel so close to shore. |
| "The crew did not care about the cargo or money or anything. They headed for land to save their lives," he said. | "The crew did not care about the cargo or money or anything. They headed for land to save their lives," he said. |
| First proper study | First proper study |
| Once news of the ships discovery was announced in 2000, souvenir hunters targeted it, forcing the Spanish authorities to erect a steel cage around the wreck to protect it. | Once news of the ships discovery was announced in 2000, souvenir hunters targeted it, forcing the Spanish authorities to erect a steel cage around the wreck to protect it. |
| After years of arranging funds, expertise and equipment, a proper exploration of the site began in July of this year. | After years of arranging funds, expertise and equipment, a proper exploration of the site began in July of this year. |
| Since then, marine archaeologists have been conducting the painstaking work of cataloguing what was on board. | Since then, marine archaeologists have been conducting the painstaking work of cataloguing what was on board. |
| "We knew it was an important find, but had no real idea until now," Mr de Juan said in an interview with the Associated Press after he and project co-director Franca Ciberchinni of Italy's University of Pisa presented their first academic report on the site. | "We knew it was an important find, but had no real idea until now," Mr de Juan said in an interview with the Associated Press after he and project co-director Franca Ciberchinni of Italy's University of Pisa presented their first academic report on the site. |
| "It is an exceptional find," Mr de Juan added. | "It is an exceptional find," Mr de Juan added. |
| An estimated 1,500 two-handled amphorae, or clay jars, were on board. | An estimated 1,500 two-handled amphorae, or clay jars, were on board. |
| Aphrodisiac | Aphrodisiac |
| The researchers established from remains of fish bones inside that the metre-high jars, which lay undisturbed but with eroded seals, were carrying garum . | The researchers established from remains of fish bones inside that the metre-high jars, which lay undisturbed but with eroded seals, were carrying garum . |
| The highly-prized delicacy was served to wealthy Romans as an accompaniment to a wide variety of dishes and was believed to be an aphrodisiac. | The highly-prized delicacy was served to wealthy Romans as an accompaniment to a wide variety of dishes and was believed to be an aphrodisiac. |
| It is thought that the ship was also carrying ingots of lead to be used in plumbing and copper, and could be mixed with tin to make bronze. | It is thought that the ship was also carrying ingots of lead to be used in plumbing and copper, and could be mixed with tin to make bronze. |
| The last time a Roman ship of similar size and good condition was discovered was off Corsica in 1985. | The last time a Roman ship of similar size and good condition was discovered was off Corsica in 1985. |
| "For archaeologists, a sunken ship is a historic document that tells us about ancient history and how its economy worked," Javier Nieto, director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology of Catalonia, said of the find. | "For archaeologists, a sunken ship is a historic document that tells us about ancient history and how its economy worked," Javier Nieto, director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology of Catalonia, said of the find. |
| "This ship will contribute a lot," he added. | "This ship will contribute a lot," he added. |