homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Over 20 hectares of Roman ruins discovered submerged off Tunisian coast

An unexpected archaeological finding confirms devastation at the hand of an ancient tsunami.

Tibi Puiu
September 1, 2017 @ 12:55 pm

share Share

On July 21, 365 AD the pearl-city of Alexandria, Egypt was devastated by a massive tsunami which was triggered by an earthquake off the coast of Greece. Though the ancients couldn’t measure earthquakes at the time, contemporary scientists estimated from the historical records that the largest of the two tremors had a magnitude of 8.0.

In Alexandria, approximately 5,000 people lost their lives and 50,000 homes were destroyed. Of course, the great port city was not alone with surrounding villages and towns suffering even worse damage. Some were wiped off the map. What’s more, the resulting tsunami traveled far and wide around the Mediterranian.

Now, we have evidence of just how far the tremor’s devastation traveled.

According to a Tunisian-Italian archaeological mission, the ancient Roman city of Neapolis located in northeastern Tunisia was also hit by the tsunami, confirming a long-held assumption.

Neapolis Tunisia

The archaeologists found over 20 hectares of Roman ruins submerged off the coast of the modern-day Tunisian town of Nabeul. Among the most interesting findings, the researchers reported streets, monuments, and at least 100 tanks used to produce garum.

Colatura di alici, or garum, is one of the basic ingredients in the cuisine of Roman antiquity. It is a fish sauce that was used to salt dishes, seen pictured in this Roman mural. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Colatura di alici, or garum, is one of the basic ingredients in the cuisine of Roman antiquity. It is a fish sauce that was used to salt dishes, seen pictured in this Roman mural. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Garum is fermented fish-based condiment which the Romans adored and imported from Neapolis.

“This discovery has allowed us to establish with certainty that Neapolis was a major centre for the manufacture of garum and salt fish, probably the largest centre in the Roman world,” Mounir Fantar, the head of a Tunisian-Italian archaeological mission told AFP.

“Probably the notables of Neapolis owed their fortune to garum.”

The expedition first started searching for Neapolis artifacts and ruins in 2010 but it was only recently that they struck gold. The fact that the Tunisian authorities thought very little of the historical value of Neapolis didn’t help at all, though. Nabuel is a popular tourist attraction and all sorts of buildings, particularly hotels, have popped up like mushrooms in the past decades. Some have been erected atop Neapolis ruins, much to the disdain of archaeologists.

Submerged for more than 2,000 years, this section was spared, revealing a rich history.

share Share

Gardening Really Is Good for You, Science Confirms

Gardening might do more for your health than you think.

The surprising health problem surging in over 50s: sexually transmitted infections

Doctors often don't ask older patients about sex. But as STI cases rise among older adults, both awareness and the question need to be raised.

Kids Are Swallowing Fewer Coins and It Might Be Because of Rising Cashless Payments

The decline of cash has coincided with fewer surgeries for children swallowing coins.

Horses Have a Genetic Glitch That Turned Them Into Super Athletes

This one gene mutation helped horses evolve unmatched endurance.

Scientists Discover Natural Antibiotics Hidden in Our Cells

The proteasome was thought to be just a protein-recycler. Turns out, it can also kill bacteria

Future Windows Could Be Made of Wood, Rice, and Egg Whites

Simple materials could turn wood into a greener glass alternative.

Researchers Turn 'Moon Dust' Into Solar Panels That Could Power Future Space Cities

"Moonglass" could one day keep the lights on.

Ford Pinto used to be the classic example of a dangerous car. The Cybertruck is worse

Is the Cybertruck bound to be worse than the infamous Pinto?

Archaeologists Find Neanderthal Stone Tool Technology in China

A surprising cache of stone tools unearthed in China closely resembles Neanderthal tech from Ice Age Europe.

A Software Engineer Created a PDF Bigger Than the Universe and Yes It's Real

Forget country-sized PDFs — someone just made one bigger than the universe.