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Navy Researchers Scanned the Seafloor and Tracked a Ping. Then They Found a Staggering 500
AOL.com • • world
Key Points:
- The French military accidentally discovered the deepest shipwreck in French waters, located 8,200 feet underwater off the coast of Ramatuelle, dating back to the 16th century.
- Initial sonar readings during a routine seabed inspection in 2025 led to detailed exploration by remotely operated vehicles, revealing a well-preserved merchant vessel about 98 feet long carrying ceramics and ship equipment.
- The cargo includes around 200 earthenware pitchers characteristic of Ligurian production, 100 yellow plates, anchors, cannons, and cauldrons, indicating the ship was likely sailing southwest from the Liguria region in northern Italy.
- The wreck, named Camarat 4, has remained undisturbed due to its depth, offering a rare opportunity to study a virtually intact 16th-century shipwreck free from looting or salvage.
- French authorities plan to create a 3D digital model of the site and conduct further research, including artifact sampling and photogrammetry, with input from expert panels.
