Fos 1 (Fournon), third quarter of the 1st century BC
Country: France
Place: Gulf of Fos (Bouches-du-Rhône), at a depth of 8–9 m
Coordinates (approximate): 43.40, 4.88
Type: Roman Republican merchant ship with double planking
Identified: No
Dated: Third quarter of the 1st century BC, based on a Dressel 12 amphora, Campanian ware, common ware and lamps (Pomey et al. 1988: 11).
Beam: Unknown.
Keel Length: Unknown.
Length Overall: Unknown; about 15 m of wreck recorded.
Number of Masts: One mast step is preserved.
History of the wreck
The Fos 1 wreck, also known as Fournon, has been known since 1950 (Benoit 1958: 37). Despite heavy looting, it was established that its cargo consisted of Dressel 1B amphorae, together with a complementary cargo of common ware. The presence of a Dressel 12 amphora for salted fish and of Campanian ware, common ware and lamps allowed the wreck to be dated to the third quarter of the 1st century BC, and showed that it came from the area of the Ager Cosanus (Pomey et al. 1988: 11).
Description of the site
The wreck lies at a depth of 8–9 m in the gulf that gives it its name. The study of the hull revealed 15 m of wreck.
Cargo
Dressel 1B amphorae, with a complementary cargo of common ware. A Dressel 12 amphora for salted fish, Campanian ware and lamps were also found.
Ballast
Not reported.
Anchors
Not reported.
Guns
Not applicable.
Iron concretions
Not reported.
Hull Remains
The study of the hull revealed 15 m of wreck, built with double planking.
Keel, keelson and mast step
The keel, 20 cm high and 14 cm wide in section, has at the point observed not a notched rabbet but a simple bevelled one, for the joint with the garboard strake of the main planking (Figure 1).
The mast step is 3.15 m long, 44 cm wide and 23 cm high; it is notched over the floor timbers by a set of notches cut for this purpose. The mortises intended to receive the foot of the mast and its fastenings are preserved.
Figure 1. Axonometric view of the keel and the garboard strakes (after Pomey et al. 1988: 11).
Frames
The framing has a very tight room-and-space (malla), with floor timbers and half-frames in a very irregular rhythm, floor timbers predominating, especially in the area of the mast step. Towards the stern, two floor timbers nailed to the keel were recorded.
Planking
The hull has double planking. The garboard strake of the main planking is joined to the keel with a simple bevelled rabbet.
Ceiling, thick stuff, and wales
There is a stringer nailed to the framing, alternating with removable ceiling strakes.
Caulking
In the bilge, the inner faces of the garboard strakes and the second strakes are partly covered with lead sheets, which led Pomey to suggest that this was a repair (Pomey et al. 1988: 11).
Size and scantlings
About 15 m of the wreck were recorded. The keel measures 14 × 20 cm and the mast step 3.15 m × 44 × 23 cm.
Table 1. Scantling of the timber remains of the Fos 1 Shipwreck
| Timber | Sided [cm] | Molded [cm] |
| Keel | 14 | 20 |
| Keelson | – | – |
| Maststep Mortise | 44 – | 23 – |
| Buttresses | – | – |
| Floor timbers | – | – |
| Futtocks | – | – |
| Room-and-space At central frames | – | |
| Planking | – | – |
| Ceiling | – | – |
| Main mast Ø Chock | – – | – – |
The mast step is 3.15 m long.
Wood
Not reported.
Bibliography
Benoit, F. 1958. Nouvelles épaves de Provence. Gallia 16.1: 5–39.
Pomey, P., Long, L., L’Hour, M., Richez, F. and Bernard, H. 1988. Recherches sous-marines. Gallia Informations 1987–1988.1. Paris: CNRS.