A team of underwater archaeologists has uncovered a Roman breakwater made from recycled architectural fragments off the coast of Bacoli in southern Italy. The find, recovered from the submerged remains of Portus Iulius, offers rare insight into how ancient engineers repurposed cultural materials for coastal defense.
Roman naval base yields key discovery
The breakwater lies submerged between Punta Terone and Punta Pennata, where the Roman naval base once stood. The structure stretches roughly 90 meters (295 feet) in length and 23 meters (75 feet) in width, at depths ranging from five to nine meters (16 to 30 feet).
Though Roman in construction, the site sits in an area once part of Magna Graecia, the network of ancient Greek colonies in southern Italy. For centuries, Greek settlers shaped the region’s architecture, seafaring practices, and urban planning.
Archaeologists say the Roman reuse of monumental elements at Misenum—such as columns and carved stones—echoes Hellenistic strategies in coastal engineering, showing how Greek and Roman ideas blended in ports across the Mediterranean.
Artifacts show intentional placement, not collapse
What sets this discovery apart is the intentional placement of marble columns, carved stones, and sculptural fragments on the seafloor.
According to archaeologists, these materials were not scattered by collapse or natural ground shifts—common in the Phlegraean Fields—but were intentionally placed to shield the harbor, functioning much like a modern breakwater.
The structure likely protected the harbor from the strong Sirocco winds, serving a function similar to modern maritime barriers.
Recovered items include marble architraves and columns
Among the most notable pieces recovered are two marble architraves featuring refined relief details and a cipollino marble column fragment.
The team used inflatable lifting balloons to bring the artifacts to the surface. The Carabinieri Underwater Unit then transported them by patrol boat for conservation.
The artifacts are now undergoing desalination and restoration at the Bourbon Park of Fusaro. Once preserved, they will be displayed at the Palazzo dell’Ostrichina, a historic venue near Lake Fusaro that now hosts cultural exhibitions.
Advanced tools aid excavation and public access
The excavation also marked a technological milestone. Researchers used advanced tools such as 3D scanning, high-resolution photogrammetry, and hyperspectral imaging to map the submerged site prior to recovery.
For the first time in Italy, the complex operation was broadcast live to the public. The move aligns with the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, which promotes transparency and education in heritage work.
Marine erosion confirms reuse in ancient defense
Simona Formola, head of the Underwater Archaeology Office at the Superintendency, described the discovery of the breakwater in Italy as a clear example of Roman adaptation to the environment.
She noted marine erosion patterns and traces from lithodome mollusks, which indicate the materials had long been exposed to the sea before being reused in ancient times.
Historic and local significance emphasized
Superintendent Mariano Nuzzo said the discovery adds valuable context to the urban and military history of Misenum, once home to the Classis Misenensis fleet led by Pliny the Elder during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Bacoli Mayor Josi Gerardo Della Ragione praised the excavation as a successful collaboration between national agencies and the local community. He emphasized its role in reclaiming and showcasing the region’s rich underwater heritage.
The project not only advances the understanding of ancient Roman coastal defense but also sets a new standard for public engagement in archaeological research.
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