Broken pottery from Roman wreck Photo: Greek Culture Ministry

Two Roman-era shipwrecks have been found in water slightly less than a mile deep off the western Greek islands of Corfu and Paxoi. The two third-century wrecks were discovered earlier this month during a survey of an area where a Greek-Italian gas pipeline is to be sunk.

It has long been supposed that most ancient sailors preferred coastal routes over sailing in deep water. The depth of these wreck raise questions about that theory.  Most shipwrecks from the era have been found in shallow waters closer to the coast.  It may be that the protection provided by inshore sailing were cancelled out by the likelihood of striking coastal reefs or being blown ashore. Then again, deep-water wrecks can also be harder to locate than shallower water wrecks.  It is also possible that the Roman ships were blown into deep water before sinking.

Shipwreck findings challenge conventional theory
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