The Malta Independent on Sunday
Early underwater archaeology and research in Malta (1960-70)
Leafing through the pages of the annual reports on the working of the Museum Department for the years 196070, it is possible to have a particularly good overview of what was a relatively new specialised field and branch of research. Underwater archaeology
It is noted from these reports that underwater archaeology depended on the activities of a handful of enthusiasts, who despite lack of sponsorship recovered various ancient relics from the sea and duly handed them over to the National Museum.
Malta’s underwater cultural legacy is well-documented by the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit of Heritage Malta. There are various dive sites ranging from a 2,700-year-old Phoenician shipwreck, Roman and Early Modern shipwrecks to dozens of aircraft crash sites, submarines and battleships from the First and Second World wars.
Underwater archaeology is a branch of reconnaissance and excavation that has been developed only during the 20th century. It was during the 1960s, in the sea around Malta and Gozo, suitably equipped groups and individuals voluntarily searched for ancient relics, particularly during the summer months. These searches were conducted on behalf of the museum. Items discovered emphasise, among other matters, the importance of shipping in later Roman times.
Various diving teams took part in recovering relics from the seabed as follows:
• HMS Falcon
• The Fleet Diving Centre (Manoel Island)
• The RAF Subaqua Club
• The Malta Subaqua Club
• Captain O. F. Gollcher team (a branch of the International Institute of Mediterranean Archaeology
The willing and voluntary co-operation of the above diving teams with the Museum Department was of immense importance as the department had no means to do such work and was unqualified to investigate itself.
This feature goes into a year-byyear survey of the findings made by these volunteers. It would have been impossible and besides the scope of this feature to include all the finds. This, obviously for reasons of space.
However, hereunder are some of the most interesting finds mentioned in these reports.
1960
During 1960, fishermen brought up the neck of an early amphora off Comino. Similar finds of amphorae were reported deep off Marsascala by Mr A. Demajo of Ta’ Xbiex.
Three scatters of sherds of probable Roman date were in shallow waters in Salina Bay and were found by Lieutenant Mills, Royal Navy and Mr A. Demajo of Ta’ Xbiex.
More important discoveries were made at Mellieħa Bay by the same two divers.
A second complete amphora with a potter’s mark in the form of a capital A and part of a heavy dolium rim with the mark L.LVCC EI/PROCLI in a rectangular frame were recovered, together with fragments of lead sheet, probably the hull-sheathing of the wrecked vessel.
1961
In August 1961, an expedition from Imperial College, London under Mr J. D. Woods, visited the island to conduct underwater exploration.
The most important discovery was by far the material recovered from depths of 30 to 60 metres along the reef at the mouth off Xlendi Bay, Gozo. This site was located by a team from HMS Falcon, Ħal Far, under Lieutenant Martins in June, and was more fully studied by the Manoel Island and Imperial College teams, with help from the others.
A temporary display of interesting anchor stocks and other material discovered around Gozo was prepared in the Gozo Museum.
1962
A large Roman anchor stock and collar were recovered off Ramla Bay and presented to the Gozo Museum by the finder, Mr J. Ripard.
A small anchor stock was sighted at Delimara by divers of the RAF Subaqua Club. The same body located another anchor of quite exceptional size off the mouth of St Paul’s Bay. A large grapnel type anchor of iron was raised near St Paul’s Islands by Mr S. Scicluna and presented to the museum. It was probably of the 18th century.
1963
An enormous Roman anchor stock lying on the seabed 120 feet below the surface 300 yards off Qawra point was raised in July.
A joint expedition from the R.N. Engineering College, Manadon, R.A.F St. Mawgan and Imperial College, London, came over in July for another spell of research in Maltese waters, this time concentrating on underwater caves.
1964
Major S. Muscat, RMA found a wreck in the middle of the bay known as ir-Ramla tat-Torri in the extreme northwest of Malta. With the assistance of a group from the Malta Branch of the International Institute of Mediterranean Archaeology, two swivel-mounted iron cannon and pieces of timber were recovered.
A Roman corn-grinder made of local hard stone was brought up by Messrs J. Caruana Huber, B. Arch., A. & C.E., J. Young and P. Dick.
1965
About a quarter of a mile due south of Selmun Islands, able seamen D. K. Harrison and R. T. Eastwood of the Fleet clearance Diving Team, Royal Navy lifted two iron anchors of the grapnel type.
In April, Mr J. W. Haddow, managing director of the Mediterranean Underwater Research Unit, presented to the museum a collection of Roman, Byzantine and later pottery found and brought up at an expedition to Salina, Marsascala.
1967
The outstanding underwater operation of the year was conducted on behalf of the museum by Honor Frost at the site in the middle of Mellieħa Bay where a Roman shipwreck had been located in 1965. The wreck area was accurately surveyed and a number of sightings made, resulting in a considerable body of information and material evidence being obtained from the site.
Accessions
Accessions were usually by bequest or by gift. Other items were purchased by the museum. Other acquisitions were by way of transfer from various government departments. Some examples of such items donated by way of gift are listed below.
1961: A Roman lead anchor from off Qala point, Gozo (given by Malta and RAF Subaqua Club)
A Roman lead anchor stock from Marsalforn, Gozo (given by Mr V. DeCesare and Mr M. P. Ripard)
1970: Roman ship’s sounding lead, bell-shaped, partly hollow with cross-shaped ribs inside, complete with tie-hole (found off Qawra Point and donated by Kenneth D. Riley, Esp. of St Paul’s Bay)