The deepest shipwreck ever found in France was discovered by chance. It is believed to be a 16th-century merchant ship sailing west from Italy.
The French Navy discovered a 16th-century merchant ship at a depth of 2,567 metres off the coast of Saint-Tropez in southern France. The shipwreck, which is in good condition, was initially discovered by underwater drones, but a remotely operated device confirmed the discovery. This underwater treasure, named Camarat 4, set a national record for archaeological finds at great depth.
The depth at which the ship lies makes it one of the deepest archaeological finds in the Mediterranean Sea and the second deepest in the world. The near-zero temperature and absence of ocean currents created ideal conditions for the preservation of the ship.
The cargo reveals the Mediterranean’s trade networks
The archaeological cargo contained around 200 ceramic jugs decorated with floral motifs, crosses and a religious monogram with the letters “IHS”, symbolising Jesus Christ. These objects reflect the spiritual and artistic sensibility of maritime culture and provide invaluable information about trade and daily life in the Mediterranean in the 16th century.
The ship, equipped with a cannon for maritime defence, also carried iron bars wrapped in plant fibres to protect them from moisture. At that time, iron was a strategic metal, necessary for the manufacture of tools, weapons and building materials.
Combining technology and archaeology
The discovery was the result of collaboration between the Department of Underwater and Underground Archaeology (DRASSM) and the French Navy. Technologies such as remotely controlled devices with 4K cameras, 3D mapping and robotic manipulators capable of manoeuvring underwater were used.
The artefacts were extracted using precision tweezers, which ensured minimal damage to the archaeological site. After extraction, experts will process these objects in the laboratory to ensure their preservation for several years.
‘The quality of the images obtained allows us to study this cargo in detail: about 200 polychrome ceramic jars [glazed ceramics] and, apparently, even more, trapped under the sediments,’ DRASSM said in a press release. ‘The shipwreck remained intact during the rescue work and, at this depth, was protected from destruction, including looting,’ the department added.
More record-breaking shipwrecks found at depth
Although the Camarat 4 has set a new French record, the world record for depth still belongs to the USS Samuel B. Roberts, found at a depth of 6,895 metres in the Philippine Sea.
This American destroyer, nicknamed ‘Sammy B,’ was discovered in June 2022 thanks to the efforts of researcher Victor Vescovo and his underwater vehicle Limiting Factor. The ship sank during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 after a heroic battle against superior Japanese forces.
This year, several shipwrecks dating back hundreds of years have been discovered in European waters. Off the coast of Ireland, underwater archaeologists recently discovered an 18th-century ship believed to be a long-lost treasure ship. In Spain, a modern-era shipwreck was recently discovered under a former fish market.
