In 1981, a wreck of a Roman merchant ship was found during the maintenance of the drainage canal at Comacchio, Northern Italy. Researchers suggest that the ship was once probably washed ashore by a storm at the mouth of the river.
The ship was about 20 meters long and 5 meters wide and loaded with numerous amphorae of wine and olive oil, lead ingots and even boxwood logs. Due to the anaerobic environment in which the object was preserved, to this day we can take a good look at wooden and leather artefacts and plant fibers. Votive objects, dishes, glᴀsses, sandals and military equipment were also found in the wreckage.
The discovered military equipment confirms that merchant ships were often protected by ordinary soldiers.
The find is dated to the end of the 1st century BC, it is currently in the Museo Delta Antico in Comacchio.
