Underwater Archaeologists Reveal Ancient Roman Port City Puteoli Near Naples

Archaeologists have uncovered the submerged remains of Puteoli, a major Roman port city, lying just a few meters beneath the waters of the Bay of Naples, Italy. The city sank gradually over nearly 2,000 years due to a volcanic phenomenon called bradyseism, which caused the coastline to subside slowly. This process led to the submersion of almost two kilometers of the ancient harbor area, preserving workshops, storage facilities, buildings, and even ancient wooden structures on the seabed.

The ongoing archaeological project, running from 2021 to 2027 and led by underwater archaeologist Dr. Michela Stefanile, employs remotely operated underwater robots, advanced imaging, 3D modeling, and digital mapping to document the site. Among the remarkable finds are a marble-cutting workshop, a temple possibly dedicated to the Nabateans, the only known Nabatean temple outside their ancient kingdom, and grain storage facilities in the Vicus Annianus district. These granaries stored Egyptian grain destined for Rome, highlighting Puteoli’s role as a critical commercial hub connecting Rome with the Mediterranean world.

The preservation of wooden elements and internal structures offers rare insights into the organization of Roman warehouses, a subject difficult to study on land. Dr. Stefanile emphasized the uniqueness of the site for understanding Roman grain storage logistics. Darius Aryeh, director of Ancient Rome Live, noted that before the establishment of Portus near Ostia, Puteoli was effectively Rome’s primary port and a vital economic center.

Historically, Puteoli flourished during the late Second Temple period and the early centuries CE, coinciding with significant events in Jewish history such as the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-135 CE). The city is mentioned in the New Testament as hosting a Jewish or local believer community, reflecting its connections with the Eastern Mediterranean.

The gradual sinking of Puteoli, while a loss in some respects, has created a unique underwater window into Roman urban and commercial life, revealing not only grand temples and palaces but also the essential infrastructure that sustained the Roman Empire’s economy.