Marine archaeologists have discovered a remarkably preserved Roman gemstone engraving studio aboard a sunken vessel in the Black Sea. The site, preserved by the anoxic (oxygen-free) environment, includes a collection of micro-drills and over 200 semi-precious stones in various stages of carving.
This discovery provides the first physical evidence of the high-precision tools used by Roman lapidary artists. The workshop was located in the ship’s stern cabin, suggesting that master engravers may have worked "on-demand" while traveling between major Black Sea ports.