Chapter 16: the battle of the Aegates Islands, 241 BC: mapping a naval encounter, 2005-2019

Abstract

The Battle of the Aegates Islands is significant as the naval engagement that ended the First Punic War and the only ancient naval battle site that has been located in the archaeological record. The Egadi Islands survey is a collaboration between the Soprintendenza del Mare, RPM Nautical Foundation, and Global Underwater Explorers, surveying an area of 270 km2 with the main concentration of the battle spread over 4 km2 . This chapter provides an overview of the 2005-2019 maritime archaeological survey of the battle site, detailing the 23 bronze warship rams that have been found on site, along with helmets, swords, and cargo. The finds reveal cross-cultural interactions in the mid-3rd century BC, as well as the earliest assemblage of Roman and Carthaginian military equipment.