Underwater archaeologists have located the remains of a 2nd-century BCE Ptolemaic merchant vessel off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. The shipwreck is remarkable for its cargo: hundreds of ceramic jars still sealed with intact pine resin, which chemical analysis has confirmed contain traces of Crocus sativus, better known as saffron, one of the most valuable commodities of the ancient world.
The discovery underscores the complexity of Mediterranean trade routes during the Hellenistic period. Alongside the saffron, divers recovered silver tetradrachms featuring the visage of Ptolemy IV and a small collection of ivory-inlaid game boards, suggesting the vessel was transporting luxury goods for the Alexandrian elite before it was overtaken by a sudden coastal storm.