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French Navy Underwater Drone Finds 16th Century Italian Merchant Ship at 2,567 Meters Deep, Revealing Intact Cargo and Details of Renaissance Trade.
A maritime drone from the French Navy made a discovery of a historic shipwreck off the southern coast of the country, near Saint-Tropez.
The submerged vessel located what has become the deepest shipwreck ever found in French waters: a 16th century Italian merchant ship, provisionally named Camarat 4.
Record Depth Discovery
The ship was initially detected as a “large object” by sonar. Confirmation came through high-definition images and robotic exploration.
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The depth of the find is impressive: 2,567 meters, equivalent to about 8,200 feet. The preservation of Camarat 4 also surprised specialists, who considered it a true time capsule.
Measuring about 30 meters long and 7 meters wide, the ship was almost intact. Its cargo was also preserved.
Almost 200 ceramic jars from Liguria were found, along with anchors, iron bars, artillery pieces, and yellow enamel plates.
Archaeology and Technology Together
The mission involved remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and support from French maritime archaeologists.
Despite the presence of modern debris, such as plastic bottles and fishing nets, the archaeological value of the ship was not compromised.
Researchers classified Camarat 4 as a time capsule from the early modern period. The transported content provides a direct portrait of the commercial and cultural connections between the Italian peninsula and the rest of the Mediterranean.
Origin and Characteristics of the Ship
Initial analyses suggest that the ship departed from Liguria, in northern Italy. The ceramic artifacts bear the monogram “IHS“, a common Christian symbol of the time, along with floral and geometric designs typical of the region in the 16th century.
The ship’s construction indicates that it was part of the fleet of merchant vessels operated by crews from Liguria or Genoa.
It was common for these ships to be commanded by family groups or by men from the same village, reinforcing communal ties during commercial crossings.
Maritime Traffic in the Renaissance
These ships sustained Italian maritime trade during the Renaissance, transporting wine, olive oil, ceramics, and metal between Italy, Corsica, and Sardinia.
The iron cargo of Camarat 4 — composed of bundled bars with organic protection — was destined for local blacksmiths. They transformed the material into tools, weapons, and agricultural implements.
The simultaneous presence of ceramics and iron points to a cargo diversification strategy. It was a way to protect profits even in the face of market fluctuations.
A New Chapter in Underwater Archaeology
The Camarat 4 is now part of the select group of important discoveries in the Western Mediterranean. It joins shipwrecks such as the Lomellina (1516), the Sainte-Dorothéa (1693), and the Ragusa, which sank in 1579 with over 2,000 tons of supplies.
The discovery represents a milestone for underwater archaeology. It also reinforces the historical significance of the Italian maritime republics in the commercial landscape of the Renaissance.
The use of modern naval technologies, coupled with the rigor of archaeological analysis, has opened a new window into a part of Mediterranean history that has been hidden under 2.5 kilometers of water for nearly 500 years.
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