Underwater Archeology Italy is one of those European nations with major coastal development and the seas in front of its coasts, for the civilizations that succeeded one another in the course of the millennia, contain an enormous heritage of archeological treasures which we must defend from the new under-water pirates, ready to sell abroad what is a inheritance of our entire country.
The Underwater Operator Groups of the Coast Guard are specialized teams of skin divers, trained by the "Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori della Marina Militare" (Skin divers and Raiders of the Italian Navy) and they have distinguished themselves particularly in the last years for Discovery campaigns and protection of the submerged archeological heritage. A demanding job in a difficult marine environment, especially considering the difficulties in which they often find themselves working. The experience of the Groups has maturated in tight collaboration with the various Underwater Archeological Groups of the Archeological Superintendence of the Italian coastal Regions.
Here following, some of the operations (from 1995 to today) of major importance on submerged archeological sites:
• Archeological campaign at the Pontine Islands: underwater recognition on the sea bed at the purpose of checking the submerged rests of the Structure of a roman Villa of the 1st Century B.C. and the ascertainment of the existence of architectural structures of Tiberio’s Villa;
• Archeological campaign in Portofino: underwater inspection in the port of Portofino where archeological findings have been recovered consisting In the rests of amphora and pottery dating back to roman age;
• Archeological campaign in Terracina: survey on a roman wreck, ascertaining the presence of a cargo of building material (terracotta tiles);
• Archeological campaign in Fosso di Cognolo (Cupra Marittima): systematic research at the aim of individuating of signs certifying the possible presence of ruins of an antique roman commercial port;
• Archeological campaign in Alassio; immersion on a submerged wreck near the Gallinara Island, in order to check the integrity of the archeological site.
