Nearly two millennia after a volcanic eruption plunged the Roman port city of Aenaria into the depths, a dedicated team of divers and archaeologists are slowly piecing together the lost metropolis beneath the Bay of Cartaromana, off the coast of Ischia, Italy.
Submerged under layers of volcanic sediment, the ruins are yielding secrets of daily life in a bustling Roman settlement, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a world erased by nature’s fury. For centuries, Aenaria was little more than a whisper in historical texts—a place mentioned by ancient writers like Pliny the Elder and Strabo, but with no surviving accounts detailing its cataclysmic demise.
The story of Aenaria’s rediscovery is a fascinating blend of serendipity, local knowledge, and persistent archaeological work. Unusual Detail: A seemingly unremarkable discovery of Roman pottery shards. Expanding Context: Ignited a spark of curiousity. Core Principle: Showcasing the power of collective memory and perserverence in archaeological endeavors.
“What we’ve found is 99% underwater,” explains Dr. Flavio Benini, the lead archaeologist on the project. “It’s like Pompeii: until it was excavated in the 1700s, no one knew it was there. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t important or didn’t exist.”
Long before the Romans, the island of Ischia, then known as Pithecusae, flourished as a Greek settlement from the 8th century BC. It became a major hub for metallurgy and trade, and its famed volcanic thermal springs drew settlers who developed some of the earliest spa facilities in the region. While abundant evidence attested to the Greek presence, Roman traces remained elusive, leading historians to believe that Ischia’s volcanic instability discouraged Roman colonization. Aenaria, however, is challeging this notion.
The first hints of Aenaria’s existence resurfaced in 1972, when two divers stumbled upon Roman pottery fragments and lead ingots off Ischia’s eastern coast. This initial discovery spurred an investigation led by priest Don Pietro Monti and archaeologist Giorgio Buchner. However, the investigation stalled, and the site was largely forgotten for decades. It was then that a group of locals decided to take things on their own hands.
In 2011, a collective of local sailors and diving aficionados, spearheaded by Giulio Lauro of the Marina di Sant’Anna cultural cooperative, reignited the search. Their efforts bore fruit when they unearthed a well-preserved Roman quay just two meters beneath the surface. The find triggered the discovery of amphorae, coins, mosaics, and even the remains of a wooden ship.
“They gave up on finding something in the bay. But we found something,” Lauro proudly stated. “We rewrote history.”
These initial finds have since burgeoned into a wealth of artifacts, revealing intimate glimpses into the daily lives of Aenaria’s inhabitants. Benini confirmed the site’s identity as a Roman settlement with an active port. Among the finds are personal items like hair combs, roof tiles, sewing needles, and ornate plaster fragments suggesting a residential area nearby. In addition, the remains of two villas with arched galleries and Roman baths have been uncovered.
One resident of Ischia, Signora Emilia, whose family has lived on the island for generations, shared her reaction to the discoveries: “It’s incredible to think that a whole city was living right here, under the sea, all this time. Life would never be quite the same, knowing what’s beneath the waves.”
Excavations have also yielded over a thousand mosaic tiles and distinctive herringbone-patterned flooring, known as opus spicatum, commonly found in Roman shops. The amphorae discovered offer a glimpse into the city’s extensive trade network, with examples from as far afield as Campania, Sicily, and the Levant. These links confirm how well-connected Aenaria was across the Mediterranean.
Here’s a snapshot of the main discoveries at the site:
- Roman quay: Well-preserved, indicating an active port
- Amphorae: From various regions, demonstrating extensive trade links
- Mosaics: Over 1,000 tiles, indicating wealth and artistry
- Villas: With arched galleries and Roman baths, showcasing residential areas
- Shipwreck: Revealing military context with naval hardware
The discovery of a shipwreck in 2020 further deepened the military context of the site. The shipwreck, located near the quay, contained lead sling bullets and naval hardware, including a bronze mooring post shaped like a swan’s head—a design frequently used on Roman warships. This discovery is particularly exiting for maritime historian, Dr. Serena Anibaldi, who believes that the site shows complex social layers. “This suggests Aenaria held strategic importance,” she notes.
Unfortunately, excavation efforts are restricted to the period between May and October due to seasonal tides, and progress is also limited by funding. Researchers are hoping to deploy advanced tools like Lidar and Georadar to map the site more comprehensively, but these technologies are expensive. “We need more investors,” Benini stressed.
Despite the limitations, the site is open to visitors during the active months. Glass-bottom boat tours offer a glimpse of the underwater ruins, and snorkeling and scuba diving are permitted near the dig sites. A small museum run by the cultural cooperative displays artifacts, such as herringbone tiles and oil lamps, and provides a short 3D film to contextualize the site.
One post from X.com user @DivingHistory reads: “Just returned from diving Aenaria! Unbelievable experience swimming among Roman ruins. The history is palpable!” #Aenaria #Ischia #RomanHistory #UnderwaterArchaeology.
Adding to the excitement, a slightly blurry instgram post by @IschiaBella showing a mosaic fragment, with the caption: “Another amazing find from Aenaria! Our island keeps surprising us! #Ischia #Aenaria #Archaeology #Italy”
As archaeologists continue to peel back the layers of sediment and time, Aenaria promises to yield even more invaluable insights into Roman life, trade, and military strategy in the ancient Mediterranean world, proving once again that the sea never truely gives up its secrets, but sometimes, after many yeras, they resurface.