REITIA Surveying Underwater Archaeology

The “Mercure” wreck, discovered on February 2001 by fishermen of the Scala family, does represent one of the most important and interesting chapter of the Mediterranean underwater archaeology. From the historical standpoint it is, at present, the only shipwreck of the Regno Italico (Italic Kingdom), the most ancient ship carrying the three coloured flag. Put under construction in the Genoa shipyards in 1805, together with other sixty “brick” (in French ) of the Napoleon French Republic, it was made over to the Regno Italico in 1809. With a displacement in excess of 400 tons, 30 meters of overall length, 9 meters of overall beam, when shipwrecked it had 92 persons on board (5 officials, 67 sailors, 20 soldiers). During the night of February 21-22 1812, the ship had been escorting the brig “Rivoli”, along with the twin vessels Jena e Mameluck. Once got out from the Venice harbour, bound to Pola,, the little fleet run against an English navy patrol. After the battle of Lissa on March 13 1881, the Royal Navy had been actually dominating the Adriatic sea and routes. English vessels, once a reduction of the Mercure speed was noted, launched the attack with the brig Weasel, by so initiating the Grado battle. Notwithstanding the coming to the rescue by the Jena, Mercure was taken under the fire coming from the Weasel's stern. Maybe hit in its “santabarbara”, Mercure exploded, splitting up in two main sections. The stern piece sank immediately, while the bow went down some minutes later, around a hundred meters apart.
From the underwater archaeology viewpoint, the wreck is a meaningful example of systematic digging and recording of an archaeological underwater site, and it was carried out by sectors and through subsequent stratigraphic sessions. Since 2001 on, each excavation campaign allowed the overall photographic and photogrammetric coverage of the so-called first archaeological layer, through a complex procedure masterminded by Mr Stefano Caressa. Through the applied methodology, in addition to weapons and personal belongings of the crew, remnants of human skeletons were recovered, to be subject to new antropological surveys.The excavation site, unique in Italy, is open to underwater archaeology students which, under the guide and supervision of professionals, have the chance to acquire an actual on-field experience. The underwater archaeology team, led by Prof. Carlo Beltrame, included Dario Gaddi and Tiziana Lanave (Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Antichità e del Vicino Oriente - Department of Ancient Times Science and Near East - Università Cà Foscari, Venice), from time to time assisted by professionals of different specialties involved in the survey and students as well