Olbia Wreck 10, 1405-1440

Country: Italy

Place: Waterfront tunnel excavation, downtown Olbia, Sardinia

Coordinates (approximate): 40.9242, 9.5325

Type: Small medieval boat

Identified: No

Dated: AD 1405-1440, by radiocarbon dating

 

Beam: Unknown.

Keel Length: Unknown.

Length Overall: Unknown.

Number of Masts: Unknown.

 

History of the wreck

The construction of a tunnel along the waterfront of Olbia, Sardinia, uncovered 24 ancient wrecks in 1999. Over the following two years they were recorded and dismantled (D’Oriano 2002: 1249-1250). Most belong to three periods: two from the first century AD, eleven thought to have been lost in a Vandal raid in the fifth century, and three abandoned as reclamation fill in the eleventh and twelfth centuries; three more, of the eleventh, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, are thought to be accidental losses (D’Oriano and Riccardi 2019: 189-190). Most publications concentrate on the earlier vessels (Riccardi 2002; D’Oriano 2004).

Olbia Wreck 10 was found embedded in the side of the tunnel, and only preliminary observations were made. Radiocarbon dating places it between 1405 and 1440 (Riccardi 2003: 314).

See also the published page of Olbia Wreck 4 (Med384), found in the same excavation.

 

Description of the site

The wreck was embedded in the side of the tunnel excavation on the Olbia waterfront and was not excavated (Riccardi 2003: 314).

 

Cargo

Not reported.

 

Ballast

Not reported.

 

Anchors

Not reported.

 

Guns

Not reported.

 

Iron concretions

Not reported.

 

Hull Remains

Only preliminary observations were recorded (Riccardi 2003: 314).

 

Keel, keelson and mast step

The keel is shallow and rounded on its lower face, which may indicate little shaping of the original log beyond removing the sapwood, or wear from use in shallow water (Riccardi 2003: 314).

 

Frames

The recorded floor timber is fastened to the keel with an iron nail and a treenail; it and the three other visible frames are rectangular in section (Riccardi 2003: 314).

 

Planking

The planking is thin, and the surviving strakes seem to have been cut from small trees (Riccardi 2003: 314).

 

Ceiling, thick stuff, and wales

Not reported.

 

Caulking

Not reported.

 

Size and scantlings

No measurements are given.

 

Wood

Not reported.

 

Bibliography

D’Oriano, R. 2002. [Full reference to be completed.]

D’Oriano, R. 2004. [Full reference to be completed.]

D’Oriano, R., and Riccardi, E. 2019. [Full reference to be completed.]

Riccardi, E. 2002. [Full reference to be completed.]

Riccardi, E. 2003. “Medieval boats from the port of Olbia.” [Full reference to be completed.]

Bendig, C. 2021. [Full reference to be completed.]