Since 2016, LMU Munich has been involved in archaeological research in the Alpine region and along the Danube as far as Dobruja. In the Black Sea off Gura Portiţa, a Roman cargo ship dating to the 2nd century AD was discovered and documented.
© Max Fiederling
In 2015, BGfU contacted the Institutul de Cercetari Eco-Muzeale (ICEM) in Tulcea to explore selected underwater archaeological sites in the Romanian Dobruja region. Four sites on the Danube, inland lakes, and the Black Sea were selected for in-depth investigation. The first prospecting campaigns began in 2016, with the Institute for Prehistoric and Early History Archaeology at LMU Munich playing a key role.
In Lake Razim, investigations focused on the area in front of the ancient settlement of Argamum and the island of Bisericuţa. Sidescan sonar measurements revealed possible harbor entrances at Argamum and a previously unknown structure on Bisericuţa. These findings complemented the LMU's land-based research and contributed significantly to a better understanding of the settlement landscape.
The focus then shifted to the maritime area off Gura Portiţa, a historic access point between the Black Sea, Razim Bay, and the Danube. Following tips from a local fisherman, LMU, together with BGfU and ICEM, conducted targeted sonar surveys. A wreck was discovered at a considerable distance from the present-day coastline and examined by underwater archaeologists.
The wreck reveals a dense field of amphorae (approx. 9.5 × 5 m) with around 1,000 amphorae of type 28 (Heraclea Pontica). The ship's frames indicate a Roman cargo ship from the second half of the 2nd century AD, approximately 15–20 m long and 5 m wide. Radiocarbon analyses and typological evaluations, carried out with the participation of LMU, confirm this dating. Particularly noteworthy is the good state of preservation of the wooden wreck parts, which provides valuable insights into ancient shipbuilding methods.
The excavation and documentation work made it possible to reconstruct the ship and gain important insights into the construction and cargo of the Roman cargo ship.
