The 5th Century BC Gela II Wreck Linked To Orichalco Cargo Salvaged In Sicily

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - The recovery works of the ancient Greek shipwreck, Gela II, associated with a cargo of the rare metal known as "Atlantes," are almost completed.

Corinthian helmets. Image credit: Archaeological Museum of Gela

These operations are being conducted under the supervision of the Soprintendenza of the Sea of Sicily.

The boat, dated to the 5th century BC and remarkably well-preserved, measures ca. 5 m in length and 15 m in width. It was discovered by divers at a depth of 5 meters near the port of Gela on the southern Tyrrhenian coast.

The vessel is an intriguing discovery because of its remarkable preservation and for carrying a cargo of Orichalco, a rare metal alloy also known as "mountain lycormer."

No doubt, this discovery provides valuable insights into ancient maritime trade and metallurgy.

'The Gold of Atlantis': Orichalcum Ingots . Image credit: Emanuele Riela, The Archaeological Museum of Gela

There are references to Oricalco alloy in ancient texts. Plato described Oricalco as second only to gold in value. It was said to have been mined in legendary Atlantis and used to decorate the buildings of this city. Historical interpretations suggest that orichalco (orichalcum ) may have referred to pure copper or an alloy such as bronze or brass.

In 2015 and 2017, the researchers salvaged eighty-six valuable orichalco ingots from the Gela II site. Amphorae, other ceramics, Corinthian helmets, and other metal objects were also found in the past.
Archaeological excavations that started in July focused on uncovering and recovering all the timber from the boat and any other remaining artifacts.

The work is being conducted by divers from Atlantis Palermo, a company specializing in underwater operations based in Monreale, a medieval town near Palermo, founded by the Normans in the eleventh century. The team work under the supervision of the Superintendence.

The timbers covered a large area (Sea Superintendence)

Currently, the boat 's restoration begins at the archaeological park of Bosco Littorio. This site is home to the remnants of the ancient Gela ship, which dates back to the eighth and fifth centuries BC.

The 900,000 euro (753,000 pounds) project, financed by the EU Cohesion Fund, is believed to take nine months. Upon completion, the ship will be exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Gela.

Valuable items like orichalcum ingots and helmets are already on display, marking the discovery site where the wreck of the Gela I ship was initially unveiled to the public.

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Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer