Iron Age Shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea

Gozo, a Phoenician period shipwreck that sank about 700 BC.

By Nick Nutter | Published: 2024-12-28 | Updated: 2025-05-18

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The Phoenician period shipwreck off Xlendi Bay on the island of Gozo sank about 700 BC. It was carrying a mixed cargo.

Where was the Gozo shipwreck found?

Gozo, a Phoenician period shipwreck that sank about 700 BC. - Working on the Gozo shipwreck — Working on the Gozo shipwreck

The Gozo shipwreck was found about 900 metres off the southwest coast of Gozo, an island just five kilometres northwest of Malta.

About the Gozo wreck site

Gozo, a Phoenician period shipwreck that sank about 700 BC. - Gozo wreck site — Gozo wreck site

The Gozo shipwreck is at a depth of 110 metres on a sandy bottom off Xlandi Bay. The wreck site covers an area of approximately 12 metres by 5 metres. Gozo was the first maritime archaeological survey to explore shipwrecks beyond a depth of 100 meters.

Who excavated the Gozo shipwreck?

Gozo, a Phoenician period shipwreck that sank about 700 BC. - Gozo wreck cargo — Gozo wreck cargo

The Gozo shipwreck was discovered in 2007 during a seabed sonar survey carried out by a team from the University of Malta. Further sonar scans were taken until the first dives on the wreck were conducted in 2014. Dives have continued each season since then supervised by Dr Timmy Gambin, an archaeologist from the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta.

When did the Gozo wreck sink?

Further research is needed to accurately date the Gozo shipwreck. However, early research indicates the ship foundered during the early 7th century BC.

How was the Gozo ship built and what were its dimensions?

Until portions of the shipwreck currently beneath the sand are excavated, it is impossible to determine how the ship was built or irs dimensions.

What was the Gozo ship's cargo?

Gozo, a Phoenician period shipwreck that sank about 700 BC. - Greek style urn recovered and restored — Greek style urn recovered and restored

An amphora, possibly of Greek origin judging from its design, was recovered during an early dive and analysis showed it had contained honey produced on Gozo.

Gozo, a Phoenician period shipwreck that sank about 700 BC. - Gozo cargo in situ — Gozo cargo in situ

About 50 amphora and urns have been recovered since, of seven different patterns. Some appear to have been made on Gozo whilst others appear to be Tyrrhenian-style amphorae typical of Italy and western Sicily.

Gozo, a Phoenician period shipwreck that sank about 700 BC. - Quern stones from the Gozo wreck — Quern stones from the Gozo wreck

In addition, about twenty quern stones, used to grind cereals, have been found at the fore and aft ends of the ship. These are made from a granite found on the island of Pantelleria and were in pristine condition, never having been used, indicating they were trade items. Pantelleria is midway between Sicily and Tunisia, about 200 kilometres northwest of Gozo.

Where did the Gozo shipwreck cargo come from?

The quern stones originated on Pantelleria, the honey from Gozo, and the amphora and urns from Gozo and Sicily. One of the ovoid amphora is typical of those manufactured at Carthage in Tunisia.

What was the purpose of the Gozo cargo?

It is most likely that the cargo was for trade.

Where did the Gozo ship come from and where was it going?

From the origin of the cargo, the Gozo ship could have been engaged in trade in the triangle formed by Carthage via Pantelleria to Sicily and Malta.

Why did the Gozo ship sink?

There are no indications as to why the ship sank.

Political situation at the time

The Phoenicians established colonies on Malta and Gozo sometime about 700 BC as they consolidated their influence in the western and central Mediterranean.

Where is the Gozo shipwreck now?

To date, the Gozo shipwreck remains at the bottom of the sea. There have been discussions about raising the wreck for exhibiting ashore at a museum to be built on Gozo. Some cargo items can be seen at the National Museum of Archaeology at Valetta, on Malta.

References

Images:
Photos: Groplan project/Timmy Gambin, University of Malta.

Gambin, Timmy (October 2017). Between east and west: The Phoenician shipwreck off Gozo (PDF) (Report). University of Malta Department of Classics & Archaeology.
Gambin, Timmy (November 2018). The Phoenician shipwreck off Gozo 2018 season (PDF) (Report). University of Malta Department of Classics & Archaeology.
https://phoenicianshipwreck.org/in-the-press/

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