Les épaves grecques du VIe siècle av. J.-C. de la place Jules-Verne à Marseille

Abstract

Several ancient wrecks were discovered during the excavation carried out in 1992-1993 in Marseille, place Jules-Verne, near the present « Vieux Port», on part of the ancient shore and its harbour installations. Among these, two Greek wrecks abandonned at the end of the 6th century BC were excavated in the summer ο f 1993. The remains of the first are homogeneous over 5 m of length and 1,50 m of width, but one of the ends have totally disappeared. Its main interest is the System of assembly entirely done with lashing, some of which are still in place. From the quality of the remains, this little wreck is a perfect example of the ancient sewn boats of the Mediterranean and of the lashing assembly technique used in archaic times. The second is preserved over a length of 14 m and a width of 4,70 m. The hull is broken in many places but nevertheless has very complete forms (whole keel, forms of the ends known, wall conserved up to the third wale). Its most remarkable characteristic is its double assembly System consisting of « tenon and mortise » οf an even earlier type for the greater part ofthe hull planking, but also by the lashing for certain other parts. The frames are directly nailed to the hull. This ship, built according to transitional techniques shows, in an excep- tional way, the passage from the ancient archaic assembly method by lashing to the new « tenon and mortise » building technique which was to predominate later ail over the ancient Mediterranean. Once excavated, the two wrecks were removed in order to be treated for conservation before being exhibited in the Musée d'Histoire de Marseille.