31 March 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Rare 400-year-old Bronze Trumpets Discovered on a shipwreck in Croatia

Croatian underwater archaeologists have made an extraordinary discovery off the southern coast of Istria near Cape Kamenjak. They have unearthed a remarkable find in a sunken 16th-century ship – rare bronze trumpets, unique on a global scale.

Bronze trumpets made in the Dutch city of Leiden have been found in the cargo of a sixteenth-century Dutch shipwreck.

Dr. Luka Bekić of the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar shared insights on this incredible find. “These trumpets were transported in pieces. Based on the number of parts, we estimate there were over ten trumpets. Globally, fewer than ten 16th-century trumpets exist in known museums.”

Thanks to these new discoveries made in the waters near Cape Kamenjak, Croatia will have the world’s largest collection of these trumpets. The fact that Leiden, the Netherlands, is the only place these were made makes them even more unique. Additionally, the ship’s cargo included beads and ceramic vessels, likely en route to Venice, which was suffering from famine during that period.

An archaeologist holds a fragment of a 400-year-old trumpet found at the wreck. Photo: International Center for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar
An archaeologist holds a fragment of a 400-year-old trumpet found at the wreck. Photo: International Center for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar

The northern European ceramics discovered next to the trumpets provided more evidence of the ship’s origin. Dr. Bekić stressed that these items offer strong proof of the ship’s Dutch ancestry.

The site is being recorded with photogrammetry so that a digital model of it can be made, explained team member Roko Surić. “Today, we can create a photogrammetric model using digital methods, which shortens diving time and allows for precise documentation of the site segment we are investigating, ultimately giving us a complete picture of the site.”

The trumpets, after undergoing meticulous restoration, are expected to be displayed in Pula. Meanwhile, the ship’s remains, including three cannons, will stay submerged, protected by a state-of-the-art method implemented for the first time in this project.

One of the most well-preserved trumpets found at the shipwreck. The brass artifact has the inscription “LVGDVNY BATAVORVM,” the Latin name for Leiden, the Netherlands. Photo: International Center for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar
One of the most well-preserved trumpets found at the shipwreck. The brass artifact has the inscription “LVGDVNY BATAVORVM,” the Latin name for Leiden, the Netherlands. Photo: International Center for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar

Also, this latest find is expected to draw divers from around the world. Robert Lehotkaj of the Diving Center Indije noted, “New discoveries mean new opportunities for divers to explore fresh locations. This site will attract both new and experienced divers looking for novel experiences.”

So far, around 20 sites boasting sunken ships have been discovered in southern Istria alone. Of these, 5 are currently under protection.

Cover Photo: International Center for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar

Related Articles

Archaeologists have discovered a 2800-year-old Urartian Castle in eastern Turkey

17 June 2021

17 June 2021

Archaeologists discovered the ruins of a castle going back 2,800 years on a mountain 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea...

Archaeologists have unearthed part of Hadrian’s Aqueduct, one of the Largest Hydraulic Works of the 2nd century AD, and Extremely Rare Greek Coins

11 January 2024

11 January 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed part of Hadrian’s aqueduct, one of the largest hydraulic works of the 2nd century AD, and a...

The sword, thought to be a replica, turned out to be an authentic 3000-year-old Bronze Age sword

22 January 2023

22 January 2023

A sword in Chicago’s Field Museum that was previously thought to be a replica has been revealed to be an...

Zeugma of the Black Sea to be will Restore

8 February 2021

8 February 2021

Hadrianaupolis Antique City is located 3 km west of Eskiyapar district of Karabük. This ancient city has been known as...

A 1700-year-old Roman water tunnel dug into the mountain was discovered in Adıyaman province in southeastern Türkiye

13 September 2023

13 September 2023

It was revealed that in the Besni district of Adıyaman province, located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, the...

A Remarkable Underground City Discovered Beneath Historic Yazd Homes in Central Iran

26 January 2025

26 January 2025

A remarkable ‘underground city’ was discovered under five historical houses in the ancient town of Abarkuh in Yazd province in...

Runic Alphabet Symbols in the Tombs Found in the Excavations in Istanbul

23 May 2021

23 May 2021

In the excavations carried out by the Istanbul Archeology Museums in the area where the metro station will be built...

Jiroft: The Mysterious Rival of Mesopotamia and the Dawn of an Ancient Civilization

24 March 2025

24 March 2025

Recent archaeological discoveries in southeast Iran are reshaping our understanding of early civilizations, particularly the Jiroft Civilization, which thrived around...

A Rare Late Neolithic Period Seal found in Domuztepe Mound

25 August 2022

25 August 2022

A rare Late Neolithic Seal was discovered during the 2022 excavations of the Domuztepe Mound (Domuztepe Höyük), located on the...

Researchers may have uncovered the ruins of one of the largest ancient cafeterias for a Buddhist temple

9 February 2025

9 February 2025

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery at the site of the Yamashiro Kokubunji temple, revealing what is believed to be...

Perre Ancient City Set to Revive Its 1,800-Year-Old Grape Mill

26 January 2025

26 January 2025

In Perre, one of the five major cities of the Kingdom of Commagene, ancient production methods will meet today’s technology....

The discovery of a 380-million-year-old heart sheds new light on our bodies’ evolution

16 September 2022

16 September 2022

Researchers from Curtin University have discovered the world’s oldest heart in a ‘beautifully preserved’ ancient jawed fish fossil 380 million...

Bronze Age family systems deciphered: Paleogeneticists analyze 3,800-year-old extended family

31 August 2023

31 August 2023

A Bronze Age family living 3,800 years ago in the Southern Urals may have taken a flexible approach to marriage,...

New Research Uncovers Earliest Evidence of Humans in Rainforests, Pushing Timeline Back 150,000 Years

3 March 2025

3 March 2025

The rainforests, as important biomes on earth, were considered uninhabited until recent history. New findings now show that humans lived...

Assyrian seal found in the ancient Kef Fortress built by the Urartians

18 November 2024

18 November 2024

An alabaster seal, believed to be from the Assyrian Empire and belonging to a nobleman, was discovered in the ancient...