Visit-Montenegro.com: A boat of the Roman period discovered in Boka

Kotor – Underwater archaeological exploration performed on 25th May from the research vessel “Hercules” resulted in the latest discovery of the remains of ship which carried ceramic tiles used as roofing material - it is assumed that it dates from the Roman period.

The General Manager of the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Ruzica Ivanovic, says that, in case additional analysis confirm that this is the boat of the Roman period it will be the most significant archaeological discovery made on the bottom of the sea in Montenegro.

Within the research project of the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, the Regional Center for Training of Divers, the Center for Underwater Demining and the “RPM Nautical” Foundation from Florida, there were other important discoveries: the wreck of a German submarine sunk 90 years ago and one amphorae locality.

Exact locations of these archaeological sites are kept secret until the assumptions are proved to be right and the shipwreck site is being well protected.

Sea bed exploration was carried out primarily in inner bays of Kotor and Risan and at the entrance in the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) by using cutting-edge equipment from the research vessel “Hercules”.

Ivanovic stated that all research documents will be kept and used by the Institute adding that the US Foundation will submit the final report on the research project once the thorough data processing and analysis have been carried out.

“We appreciate the fact that our American associates have modern equipment and an expert team led by Dr Jeffrey G. Royal in many aspects. For instance, we have the opportunity to exchange experiences and learn new research techniques. These facts indicate long-term cooperation of our Ministry of Culture and other cultural institutions with this American Foundation since their and our plans correspond and that implies joint activities on important mission of exploring and finding undiscovered underwater archaeological heritage. The project will contribute to preserving cultural heritage of Montenegro and the world cultural heritage as well,” Ivanovic pointed out.

She reminded that they have neither an expert in archaeological diving, nor adequate equipment to perform research work or an institution which would supervise the entire project.

“I believe that the research underway was just the last drop that made the cup run over and the sign that Montenegro has to pay more attention to this issue. We cannot protect something that is yet undiscovered, but we also cannot make underwater discoveries if we lack necessary conditions to carry out the exploration,” Ivanovic remarked.

In words of Vesko Mijajlovic, the General Manager of the Regional Center for Training of Divers, the Montenegrin sea bed hides a treasure priceless to the economy of Montenegro.

He added that the incentive to establish the Center for Archaeological Research in Kotor should be initiated with the aim to explore the sea bottom of Montenegro in due course which would be thereupon preserved.

By I.K.