Although better known for the 7th century BC Phoenician shipwreck, there is other significant archaeological material off Xlendi Bay, Gozo. Since the late 1950s, a number of cultural objects, mainly amphorae, have been recovered from the seabed just under the coastal watch tower that guards the entrance into Xlendi. Various exploratory projects were conducted on this deep-water multi-period site with mixed results. In 1993, a submarine survey revealed a dense scatter of amphorae located in depths varying between 108 and 112 metres. In 2007, the extent of this archaeological deposit was mapped and recorded, revealing a rectangular zone of high archaeological value and consisting of varying densities of archaeological material, spread over a total area of 70,000m². Besides the visible material, the presence of archaeological remains buried in the sediment is also very likely, owing to the continuous sediment deposition from the Xlendi ria. The seabed consists of a silty/sand punctuated by a series of rocky outcrops that vary in size, and around which archaeological objects have accumulated. These consist of mostly amphorae, but also include urns, bowls and other ceramic objects. The quantity of homogenous material suggests the presence of at least one shipwreck datable to the third century BC. Since 2021, Heritage Malta launched an ambitious project to record the site in high-resolution so as to better understand the morphology of this unique underwater archaeological site. This talk starts with the early beginnings of research in this area covering the methodologies used over the decades as well as preliminary results emphasis on the pottery repertoire present on the seabed as well as Heritage Malta’s efforts to share this ancient cultural treasure.

The talk will be delivered by Prof. Timmy Gambin, a Professor of Maritime Archaeology in the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta.

Heartfelt thanks to APS Bank for sponsorsing this talk and the ones that follow. Thanks also goes to Delicata Winery for sponsoring this series of talk with post-talk drinks.