Archaeologists from the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) have located a remarkably well-preserved Roman merchant vessel in the deep waters off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. Dating back to the 1st Century BCE, the ship appears to have been transporting a specialized cargo of scientific instruments and high-grade Corinthian bronze, a material prized in antiquity for its gold-like luster and durability.
The most significant find at the site is a pair of intact bronze astrolabes, which are among the earliest known examples of such complex navigational tools. These artifacts suggest that Roman maritime technology and astronomical knowledge were far more sophisticated during the late Republic than previously documented. Alongside the instruments, divers recovered several lead-sealed wooden crates containing medical vials and surgical tools made of silver.