Summary (English)
The excavation confirmed that the entire area had been occupied by the sea. In the basin investigated a succession of sea beds came to light belonging to the area closest to the bank where boats of low tonnage could enter and moor. Between 3 and 4.00 m below the present sea level, the latest sandy levels relating to 6th century A.D. occupation of the site were identified. In the northern part of the excavation the remains of wooden wharfs came to light of which the uprights embedded in the sand were preserved. The exploration produced numerous pottery and glass finds for this period.
Below this level was evidence of a moment of stasis during the 3rd century A.D. when the structures of the preceding period were abandoned and obliterated.
A quay at right angles to the coastline dated to the 1st century A.D. On an east-west alignment it was constituted by a dump of limestone rocks put together using the dry-stone technique and contained by vertical wooden posts.North of this structure three boats emerged: the first as it sank penetrated the flank of the second with its prow, thus damaging it.
The boats seemed to have been abandoned close to the quay during the 1st century A.D. Their hulls were filled by the layers of sand that had formed in the 2nd century A.D. causing their complete obliteration. It was on this level that the two wharfs were constructed, their uprights penetrating the boats, by then covered with sand, breaking their planking.Two of the boats were commercial maritime vessels ( onerariae ) used for small-medium sized coastal trading. The third was a rarer horeia, a large vessel with a flat bottom and prow with a vertical shaft. These were used in the port for loading and unloading cargo or for fishing.
For the 1st and 2nd century A.D. phases many almost intact finds were discovered on the seabed. Furthermore, a great number of artefacts and instruments made of organic materials were preserved: boat equipment, fishing and work implements.At the beginning of the 5th century A.D. silting and swamping occasioned the abandonment of this part of the harbour basin and the advance of the coastline.
- Valeria Sampaolo - Soprintendenza dei Beni Archeologici delle province di Napoli e Caserta 
Director
- Daniela Giampaola - Soprintendenza dei Beni Archeologici delle province di Napoli e Caserta
Team
- B. Roncella
- S. Febbraro
- V. Carsana
Research Body
- Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici delle Province di Napoli e Caserta
Funding Body
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