16th International Symposium on Boat & Ship Archaeology

31 Zadar, Croatia | 26 September – 1 October 2021 Massimo Capulli University of Udine, Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage, Italy The columns Shipwreck of Kamarina (II AD). New data from the Kaukana project (Sicily) Known to the authorities since 1973, the Columns Shipwreck (175-200 AD) has been the subject of a series of surveys in the 1970s. Excavation campaigns, how- ever, only took place a few years later, in particular in 1989 and 1996, which al- lowed the excavation of almost the entire site. The ship carried two monolithic columns, semi-processed and just over 6 m long, made of Numid yellow marble. Other goods added to this main cargo, name- ly blocks of grey marble and compact sandstone, as well as African amphorae. The research carried out during the last two years (2019-2020) has made it possible to extend the excavation and to follow the eastern side well beyond the limits assumed. Upper sections of the frames were identified and documented. In addition, the entire hull was documented again, also using the new techniques available (Structure from motion). The hull, preserved for about 15 m in length, was built according to the “shell first” system, where the planks are firmly connected in this case by a dou- ble order of mortise and tenons, arranged in a staggered manner on two parallel rows, in such a way that the joint does not present a solution of continuity. This research is part of the Kaukana Project that was born from the partner- ship between the Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage of the Univer- sity of Udine and the Sea Superintendence of the Sicily Region, with the support of Institute of Nautical Archaeology. It aimed at the diachronic reconstruction of the submerged and coastal landscape of the Ragusa province (Sicily). The paper will present the new data of the columns shipwreck and its rela- tionship with Kamarina colony in the context of maritime trade.