Near the Croatian island of Mljet, archaeologists have found a large amount of gold in a shipwreck from 1,300 years ago. For ten years, they have been exploring the ship, which sank near the old harbor of Polače. The area has many shipwrecks, but this one is special. Instead of normal goods, the divers found many jewels like rubies, emeralds, and pearls, along with a lot of gold.
The amount of gold found is the largest ever discovered in a Byzantine-era shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea. After cleaning, the treasure weighed over 600 grams. Igor Miholjek, who leads the underwater archaeology department at the Croatian Conservation Institute, said this is a very impressive find.
The treasure includes coins from the time of Emperor Heraclius (610-711 AD) and four gold belt decorations. Researchers have never found this type of luxury item underwater in the Mediterranean before. Pavle Dugonjić, who is helping lead the dig, said he had never found anything like it.
A golden ring with an emperor's portrait was also found. Historians think only a high official could wear it to approve important documents. Dugonjić explained that it was not a ring for just anyone. The ring and the belts suggest an important person was traveling with guards or servants.
The ship was about 60 feet long and could carry 60 tons. However, it had fewer storage jars than usual for a trading ship. This suggests the ship was carrying valuable luxury items for passengers, not just regular trade goods. Miholjek noted it was not a normal trading trip.
Besides the valuables, everyday items like pottery, game pieces, and tools were found. Metalworking tools, including melting pots, were also discovered.
At the time this ship sailed, the Byzantine Empire, the eastern part of the Roman Empire, was facing difficulties. The empire had problems with sickness, farming, and wars. Despite the instability, the sea routes near Mljet were still important for trade between Constantinople (modern Istanbul) and Italy.
Since 2015, Croatian experts and Stanford University researchers have been studying the shipwreck. Professor Justin Leidwanger from Stanford believes the site is very important for understanding the end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the medieval period. He stated that it helps us understand how sea routes connected the Mediterranean and how the empire eventually broke apart.