Underwater archaeologists using high-resolution 3D sonar have identified the ruins of a 5th-century BCE Etruscan temple dedicated to maritime deities, located six miles off the coast of Tuscany. The structure, which sits 30 meters below the surface, includes a series of monolithic columns and a central altar surrounded by a cache of ceremonial bronze anchors and gold-inlaid votive offerings shaped like dolphins.
This discovery confirms historical accounts of "floating sanctuaries" used by Etruscan sailors to secure divine protection before long-distance voyages. The presence of Greek and Phoenician ceramics at the site suggests the temple served as an international maritime hub, where traders from across the Mediterranean would stop to make offerings and exchange goods under the protection of the coastal city-state.