Elba Island discovery: Roman dolium and shipwreck found

Archaeological monitoring in the waters off Elba Island has led to the discovery of a Roman-era dolium and the remains of a potential shipwreck. The dolium, a large terracotta container used for transporting goods such as wine, oil, or grain, may be linked to 'dolia ships'—merchant vessels used between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE for bulk wine transport along Tyrrhenian trade routes.

The shipwreck measures approximately five meters long and two meters wide. While it is largely covered by mucilage, researchers have identified wooden structural elements and bronze nails. The exact dating of the wreck remains uncertain, with possibilities ranging from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages.

The discovery was made during monitoring activities organized by the Soprintendenza ABAP for the provinces of Pisa and Livorno, in collaboration with the Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale of Florence and the Carabinieri Subacquei of Genoa. This follows ongoing studies of the marine area between the Piombino Channel and the Tuscan Archipelago, which began in May.