Unidentified Artifacts Discovered on the Seafloor May Hold A Revolutionary Finding

Unidentified Artifacts Discovered on the Seafloor May Hold A Revolutionary Finding. An even more significant discovery in the Mediterranean could be revealed by Stone Age volcanic rocks with carved surfaces.

Off the picturesque Italian coast, ancient artifacts carved from volcanic glass have been discovered. These magnificent artifacts are incredibly old in their style and quality; it's been suggested that they fell to the seafloor amid a shipwreck during the Stone Age, some 8,000 to 5,000 years ago.

The discovery was recently made close to Capri's White Grotto, a stunning island in the Gulf of Naples dotted with opulent mansions, lush gardens, and upscale stores. The Blue Grotto, a well-known cave with unusually blue waters caused by sunlight entering through a concealed underwater opening, is not too far from the cavern's location.

After working together to recover the artifacts in late November 2023, the Naples Police Department and marine archaeologists have discovered the artifacts are dispersed over a far larger area of seafloor than previously believed.

An object made of obsidian, a glossy black volcanic glass created when lava cools quickly, was one of the most important discoveries. It weighs eight kilograms (17.6 pounds) and is about 28 by 20 by 15 centimeters (11 by 8 by 6 inches) in size.

Most importantly, the obsidian object's cut marks and carvings offer conclusive proof that it was altered by human hands. Exactly what the object was is not clear, though.

30 to 40 meters (98 to 132 feet) below the surface is where it was discovered. Although the team is unsure of how such a priceless artifact got here, they think it was probably being carried as cargo by a ship from the Neolithic era.

Though there is no guarantee that such remains even exist, they hope to discover the shipwreck of this ancient vessel with more work.

"To confirm the potential existence of the hull or additional cargo material, a comprehensive instrumental survey of the seabed must be conducted," stated Mariano Nuzzo, the Naples metropolitan area's superintendent of archaeology, fine arts, and landscape.

Experts say it would be a "mind-blowing" discovery if researchers found the remnants of a Neolithic ship here.

"To date, no Neolithic hull remnants have been discovered in Mediterranean waters. On the European continent or in freshwater environments like lakes and rivers, Neolithic boats have been discovered in certain instances. However, the mollusk Teredo navalis, which eats wood, enjoys the pleasant temperature and salinity of the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, these mollusks feed on wooden ships of all ages that sink in the Mediterranean, according to Sandro Barucci, a researcher and author of books on historical seafaring, who spoke with Newsweek.

It might be possible to find some wooden parts at Capri if the boat had submerged rapidly in the sand and stayed safe, particularly if it was a dugout canoe, which is constructed from a single, sizable tree trunk that has been hollowed out. However, he continued, "It would be an unusual and unique occurrence.

Because obsidian is hard and brittle, it was frequently used to make sharp-edged tools like axes, knives, and arrowheads. During the Neolithic era, it was extensively traded throughout the Mediterranean and the Near East.

Although the discovery of obsidian at this time is quite amazing, the discovery of volcanic glass along the Mediterranean coast is not all that surprising. Overlooking the Gulf of Naples, a region of Europe prone to frequent and catastrophic volcanic eruptions is Mount Vesuvius.

Its most notorious eruption happened in 79 CE when Vesuvius erupted, killing thousands of Romans in an especially unpleasant way, covering the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum with a flurry of searing hot ash and volcanic rocks.