Mysterious Objects Found Underwater in Potentially ‘Mind-Blowing’ Discovery

A series of mysterious ancient artifacts made from volcanic glass have been found off the coast of Italy—and some believe the objects could represent the cargo of a Neolithic wreck, in what would be a potentially “mind-blowing” discovery, one expert told Newsweek.

In October, divers from the underwater unit of the Naples Police identified the submerged remains, which are made from a material called obsidian, near Capri—an island in the Bay of Naples.

The obsidian artifacts lie on the seabed at a depth of 100 to 130 feet, close to a sea cave on the island’s coast known as the Grotta Bianca, or White Grotto, according to the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape (SABAP) for the Naples Metropolitan Area.

SABAP said in a press release that the obsidian artifacts could have been part of the cargo of a ship from the Neolithic era, or New Stone Age. The date range for this stage of human development differs depending on geographic location. In Europe as a whole, the Neolithic roughly spanned the years 7000-2000 B.C. But in the central-western region of the Mediterranean, where Capri lies, the timespan is closer to 6000-3500 B.C.

If evidence of a Neolithic wreck is found at the site, the discovery would be of great significance, Sean Kingsley, editor-in-chief of Wreckwatch magazine, told Newsweek. But at the moment, no actual parts of a Neolithic vessel have been found at the site, and some experts have urged caution regarding this interpretation of the obsidian artifacts.

“Finding a Neolithic wreck would be mind-blowing,” Kingsley said. “If any extensive cargo and crew’s belongings survive, the discovery would become one of the top five underwater strikes of all time. For now, the jury is out, however.”

“[The obsidian] is a curious find that will only make sense when the results of what other Neolithic artifacts lost off Capri are known,” he said. “Is there other wreckage down there? Was this an isolated case of jettison when a canoe-boat got caught in a storm? Or was it even a ritual gift to the gods made by the Neolithic men and women from Capri’s ‘Grotta Delle Felci’ settlement?”

Sandro Barucci, a researcher who has authored publications on ancient seafaring, told Newsweek the latest discovery is “certainly very interesting” but also said caution must be applied in interpreting the obsidian objects as part of the cargo of a boat that was wrecked off Capri, even though this is a possibility.

“Furthermore, before we can talk about the ‘Neolithic,’ in-depth technical examinations must be carried out by expert archaeologists, and I do not believe that this could have been done in such a short time,” he said.

Neolithic societies were capable of seafaring, although the vessels of the time—constructed using a variety of methods—would have been small, as larger ships had yet to be developed.

“Think more along the lines of a wooden canoe, maybe strengthened for long-distance oar power with ribs inserted widthways along the inside. And with a step to secure a simple sail,” Kingsley said.

Neolithic maritime activity in the Mediterranean region is documented mostly through indirect evidence—including the distribution of artifacts and/or raw materials—rather than direct evidence, such as actual boats or fragments thereof. Neolithic boats were made from perishable materials that are only preserved under rare and specific conditions.

“The remains of a Neolithic hull in Mediterranean waters have never been found to date,” Barucci said. “There are cases of Neolithic boats found on the European mainland or in fresh water, lakes and rivers. But the Mediterranean Sea has a pleasant temperature and salinity for the wood-eating mollusk, Teredo navalis. Thus, wooden ships of all ages, when they sink in the Mediterranean, are prey for these mollusks.”

“At Capri, if the boat had sunk quickly into the sand and remained protected, it would perhaps be possible to find some wooden parts, especially if it were a dugout canoe—i.e. made from a single large hollowed-out tree trunk. But it would truly be a very rare event, indeed unique. We have to wait for the excavations.”

So far, the photos from Capri show a seabed characterized by rocks and boulders rather than sand. “So, we may be in the realm of hope and wishful thinking,” Kingsley said.

Earlier this month, underwater archaeologists from SABAP in collaboration with the Neapolitan police divers, managed to recover the first of what they said was a series of obsidian artifacts located off Capri.

The object, known as an obsidian “core,” measures approximately 11 inches by 8 inches across and weighs more than 17 pounds. While it is not clear exactly what the object’s purpose was, it bears clear traces of chiseling and processing on the surface.

Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed by the rapid cooling of lava with a particular chemical composition. Typically, it is jet-black in color, although other varieties exist.

The material is hard and brittle, producing sharp edges when fractured. Ancient humans took advantage of this property to create obsidian cutting and piercing tools, such as knives and arrowheads, with evidence of such artifacts dating back thousands of years.

“Obsidian was precious during prehistoric times because very sharp blades were made from it, which lasted a long time. When metals were not yet in use, obsidian was the best material for making cutting tools, and its value was enormous,” Barucci said.

Because not all volcanoes produce obsidian, it is not a very abundant material. Despite this, obsidian as a raw material was widely transported through maritime activity in the Mediterranean during the Neolithic and it has been found at a number of archaeological sites across the region, even if it is not a very frequent discovery, according to Barucci.

While obsidian has been a high-status trade item for over 10,000 years, Kingsley said it is “extremely rare” to find obsidian cores underwater. “An obsidian cargo would be uniquely special.”

Nena Galanidou, professor of prehistoric archaeology at the University of Crete in Greece, told Newsweek there are no other cases—to the best of her knowledge—of obsidian cores found as part of the cargo of a Neolithic wreck.

The fact that a series of obsidian cores have been identified off Capri—rather than just a single one—could boost the wreck theory, according to Kingsley.

“But on the other hand, these cores are ‘worked,’ which makes me veer more towards the chances that the obsidian came from a sunken prehistoric settlement. Were the signs of chiseling created at the mines to cut out the volcanic glass? Or were the blocks worked to make tools? If the latter proves true, I’d favor linking them to an as yet unfound sunken site. ‘Customers’ wanted fresh goods, not second-hand wares!”

SABAP superintendent Mariano Nuzzo said it is now necessary to carry out an extensive survey of the seabed in the area near the White Grotto to verify the possible presence of a vessel’s hull or other cargo material. Operations to recover further items from the seabed are also planned, which experts hope will shed more light on the mysterious circumstances that led to the obsidian being deposited on the seafloor.