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Submerged 4th-Century BCE 'Carthaginian Grain Ship' with Intact Terracotta Cargo Identified off the Coast of Malta

📅 April 5, 2026 📰 Maritime Archaeology Journal
Submerged 4th-Century BCE 'Carthaginian Grain Ship' with Intact Terracotta Cargo Identified off the Coast of Malta

Marine archaeologists have discovered a sunken Carthaginian merchant vessel resting 60 meters below the surface off the coast of Malta. The ship, dating to the 4th century BCE, carried a massive cargo of terracotta grain jars (amphorae) and lead ingots destined for the Punic ports of the central Mediterranean.

The wreck remains remarkably intact, with the wooden hull partially preserved beneath the protective silt. This discovery offers new insights into Punic naval architecture and the complex logistics of the ancient grain trade between North Africa and the Mediterranean islands.

Original source: Maritime Archaeology Journal