Ship Over 2,000 Years Old Found in Novalja

In Novalja, an ancient sewn ship over 2000 years old was found. The excavations will last around two years.

NOVALJA, CROATIA - In the Caska Bay on the Island of Pag, near Novalja, an ancient sewn ship over 2,000 years old was found. This is the result of research done by the city of Novalja and the Zadar University, in cooperation with the French institute for scientific research (CNRS-CCJ University in Marseille) and numerous other foreign associates.

The research, which was organized by the City of Novalja in cooperation with the Zadar University in cooperation with the French national institute for scientific research, was led by professor Zdenko Brusic from the Zadar University.

“In Roman times, Novalja was known for its port accommodation and was located on the old sea route from Greece to northern Italy and central Europe. The ships would wait in Novalja for suitable winds and because of that a town developed there that had various suitable servces. Today there are numerous remains of Roman architecture under the whole region, like water supply lines, well equipped basilicas, graves” said Brusic for ezadar.hr.

At the bottom of the bay there is the sunken Roman town named “Kissa” (Cissa), whose remains are being researched, and the discovery of the sewn ancient ship was the result of the joint work of around 20 Croatian and French archaeologists, added the professor.

“That ship was literally sewn with the help of rope that was pulled through holes, and was used by the people of Liburnia” said Irena Radic Rossi from the Croatian restoration institute. She added that the exact age of the ship will be determined in the research, even though it is already known that it is over 2,000 years old.