Roman shipwrecks found off Egypt's north coast

Egypt says archaeologists have discovered three sunken shipwrecks dating back more than 2,000 years to Roman times off the coast of the city of Alexandria.

A crystal bust thought to be of Roman army commander Marcus Antonius 
[Credit: Ministry of Antiquities]

Tuesday's statement from Mostafa Waziri, the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, says the discovery was made in collaboration with the European Institute of Underwater Archaeology.

Roman gold coins found Abu Qir Bay in Alexandria [Credit: Ministry of Antiquities]

Waziri says the archeologists also uncovered a head sculpture carved in crystal, believed to depict Marcus Antonius, and three gold coins dating back to Rome's first emperor, Augustus. Parts of large wooden planks and archaeological remains of pottery vessels were also found, which could have been part of the ships' cargo.

The discoveries were made in Alexandria's Abu Qir Bay. Separately from the Roman-era finds, a votive bark of the pharaonic god Osiris was found in the nearby sunken city of Heraklion.

Source: The Associated Press [November 21, 2017]