23 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

4th Century BC Greek Shipwreck Discovered Near Croatian Island of Vis – One of the Adriatic’s Oldest

A significant archaeological find has been confirmed off the coast of Komiža, near the Croatian island of Vis, where researchers have uncovered the remains of a Greek merchant ship dating back to the 4th century BC — a crucial period when the ancient Greeks established colonies on the Adriatic islands of Issa (modern-day Vis) and Pharos (now Hvar).

The wreck, located at a depth of 30 to 50 meters, was initially spotted in 2023. Now, experts from the Underwater Archaeology Department of the Croatian Conservation Institute have officially confirmed the site’s exceptional historical value.

“From our first dive, we sensed the site was something extraordinary,” said diver Marko Lete in an interview with HRT. “We recovered a coin, still undergoing analysis, but the surrounding pottery clearly indicated a 4th century BC origin. This makes it one of the oldest shipwrecks ever discovered in the Adriatic Sea.”

As excavations progressed, the team uncovered well-preserved artefacts, including fine Hellenistic pottery, personal items, human remains, and a remarkably intact section of the ship’s wooden hull.

Jurica Bezak, lead archaeologist and senior conservator at the Croatian Conservation Institute, highlighted the ship’s exceptional state of preservation.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



“This site has no equal in the region,” Bezak stated. “The luxury ceramics and the lead-plated wooden structure are extraordinarily well-preserved, offering unique insights into ancient shipbuilding techniques.”

The ship is believed to have been transporting supplies to the newly established colony of Issa. Among the cargo were amphorae, fine ceramics, containers filled with olive oil, spices, and preserved food — artifacts that shed light on the daily life and trade practices of early Greek settlers in the Adriatic.

Photo: Underwater Archaeology Department of the Croatian Conservation Institute / Screenshot / HRT
Photo: Underwater Archaeology Department of the Croatian Conservation Institute / Screenshot / HRT

“Some items emerging from the silt appear as if they were made yesterday,” Lete added, praising the craftsmanship and engineering of the ancient vessel.

Bezak noted the broader cultural importance of the discovery:

“Beyond its archaeological significance, this find will enhance the cultural and educational landscape of Vis. Once restored, many of the recovered artefacts will be displayed in the island’s museum, benefitting both the local community and tourism.”

The Croatian Conservation Institute continues to lead the ongoing excavation in collaboration with local diving clubs and the Vis Heritage Museum. Research at the site is expected to continue for several years due to the complexity and delicacy of the preservation process.

The Founding of Issa and Pharos in the 4th Century BC

The 4th century BC was a transformative era for the Adriatic region, marked by the expansion of Greek colonial influence. During this period, Greek settlers from Syracuse in Sicily founded the colony of Issa (on the island of Vis) around 397 BC. Shortly thereafter, they helped establish Pharos (on Hvar Island) in 384 BC.

These colonies played a crucial role in the spread of Hellenic culture, trade, and maritime dominance in the eastern Adriatic. Issa, in particular, became a thriving center of commerce and culture, complete with fortifications, public buildings, and its own coinage. It served as a key strategic outpost for Greek influence in the region and later played a pivotal role during Roman expansion.

The discovery of this 4th-century BC shipwreck offers direct physical evidence of that era’s advanced shipbuilding and trade networks, providing a rare connection to the daily life and seafaring practices of early Greek colonists in the Adriatic Sea.

You can see the video here…

Cover Image Credit: HRT

Related Articles

Norse Runic Text found in Oslo could be Prayer!

30 December 2021

30 December 2021

Archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Studies (NIKU) have unearthed two objects inscribed in Norse runic text in...

Have We Found Moses’ Signature? Ancient Inscriptions in Egypt May Hold the First Written Link to the Bible

29 July 2025

29 July 2025

Mysterious Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions may point to Moses and Joseph as historical figures, sparking global scholarly controversy. A groundbreaking proto-thesis by...

A Roman copper-alloy tiny tortoise figurine found in Suffolk

3 December 2023

3 December 2023

In July last year, a small Roman copper alloy tortoise or turtle figurine was discovered by metal detectors near the...

Archaeologists Document Over 95 Dolmens at Murayghat: A 5,500-Year-Old Ceremonial Landscape in Jordan

18 October 2025

18 October 2025

Amid the stony hills southwest of Madaba, archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen have uncovered one of Jordan’s most extensive...

Unlocking the Secrets of Jersey’s Le Câtillon II: A Celtic Settlement Discovered Near the Enigmatic Hoard

12 March 2025

12 March 2025

Recent archaeological investigations near Jersey, an island in the English Channel situated just off the coast of France, have unveiled...

The World’s oldest and first swords ever discovered

11 March 2023

11 March 2023

The 5,000-year-old swords found 43 years ago during the excavations in the old mud-brick palace structure in Malatya Arslantepe Mound...

A 3,400-year-old Pyramid from the Scythian-Saka period found in Karaganda region of Kazakhstan

2 November 2023

2 November 2023

A pyramid belonging to the Scythian-Saka period was found in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan. Experts announced that the Karajartas...

The Celts’ Astronomical Secrets: The Chão de Lamas Lunula and the Coligny Calendar Connection

2 March 2025

2 March 2025

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Palaeohispanica has shed light on the ancient timekeeping practices of the Celts, centering...

Mustatil Structures in Arabia May Be 7,000-Year-Old Stone Remnants of Cattle Cult

1 May 2021

1 May 2021

Archaeologists examining the mustatil stone remains in the northwest of Arabia think that these stone remains may have been used...

Over 70 Archaeological Sites Identified in Canada’s Chilcotin Region, Uncovering Secwépemc Pit Houses Over 4,000 Years Old

29 March 2025

29 March 2025

Recent archaeological findings indicate that the Secwépemc people’s historical presence in the Chilcotin region of British Columbia, Canada, is more...

Queen of Seas Who Challenged Rome: ‘Queen Teuta’

31 October 2023

31 October 2023

Illyrian Queen Teuta is one of the most extraordinary figures of Illyrian antiquity and of Albanian heritage. She was also...

Climate has influenced the growth of our bodies and our brain

8 July 2021

8 July 2021

Over 300 fossils from the genus Homo have been measured for body and brain size by an interdisciplinary team of...

A 4000-year-old Fabric Found in a Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert is the Oldest Dyed with Insect Dye

15 July 2024

15 July 2024

Researchers discovered an ancient textile dyed with kermes (Kermes vermilio) in Israel’s Cave of Skulls that dates back to the...

3 mummified skeletons were found in Iznik, western Turkey

8 October 2021

8 October 2021

Archaeologists discovered mummified skeletons dating from the 2nd century A.D. within two sarcophagi at the Hisardere Necropolis in Bursa’s Iznik...

800-year-old Jin dynasty palace complex found in Beijing Olympic Village

9 February 2022

9 February 2022

While building the athletes’ Olympic Village for this year’s Winter Games in Beijing, China found the remains of an ancient...