Punta Scifo

The wreck lies in the bay of Scifo, just south of the promontory of Capo Colonna (ancient Lacinium promontoriu, site of the sanctuary dedicated to Hera). It lies on the seabed at a depth of 6.5 m and 160 m from the promontory of Capo Pellegrino, known locally as Punta Scifo. Discovered by Luigi Canfora in 1986, the wreck was investigated in 1987 by the Cooperativa Aquarius, directed by Alice Freschi, on behalf of the Archaeological Superintendency of Calabria. These investigations, including excavation and planning, remained largely unpublished.

The site has been newly investigated using new technology and cataloguing has begun of the moveable finds (metal and ceramics) recovered during the 1987 campaign and largely forming part of the ship’s equipment. The archaeological deposit “Punta Scifo D” comprises over 50 marble artefacts belonging to the cargo of a stone transporting ship, which a preliminary study of the pottery and amphorae dates to the 3rd century A.D.

The marbles, in the form of blocks and slabs, are all in the rough-hewn stage and some are very large weighing over 20 tons. Minero-petrographic and isotope analyses undertaken by Lorenzo Lazzarini, I.U.A.V (Venice) on a series of samples, indicate that this is Proconnesian marble quarried at the site of Saraylar on the Turkish island of Marmara. During the 2011 investigation, a photo-mosaic was made of the entire area where the stone elements lie and all of them were re-measured in order to determine the volume and weight of the cargo on the ship. The first results suggest that the “Punta Scifo D” ship transported one of the largest ancient stone cargoes discovered in the Mediterranean.
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Study and processing of the data is underway and this should make it possible to determine the original positions in stowage of the stone blocks and to understand what the maximum dimensions and hydro-static characteristics of the ship were. The few preserved timber remains from the hull showed the use of a double layer mortice and tenon construction technique. Like the marble’s provenance, some of the ships equipment (pottery and amphorae) was linked to productions in the Aegean-Microasiatic and Pontine areas.



Attractions

• The castle of “Le Castella” – Isola Capo Rizzuto (Crotone)

Among the most imposing fortresses of Calabria, the Aragonese castle of Le Castella it has over time become a symbol of tourism in Calabria. Located on a small strip of land overlooking the beautiful “Costa dei Saraceni” in the hamlet of Le Castella town of Isola Capo Rizzuto represents what remains of a more large ancient area. The fortress is surrounded by the Capo Rizzuto Marine Reserve and from one of the  rooms it is possible to observe the seabed thanks to of underwater cameras positioned in marine environment.

• The castle of “Santa Severina” – Santa Severina (Crotone)

Santa Severina is a remarkable town in the province of Crotone where it is possible to admire the great castle of Santa Severina, also known as Carafa Castle, built on a fortress of the Roman-Byzantine time during the Norman domination of the XI century. It is composed of a XV century square surrounded by a moat and encircling walls. With a section that offers examples of different stiles (Byzantine, Norman, Svevian). Today the castle is home to a museum which exhibits the artifacts and archaeological collections from the neighboring territory.

• The National Museum and Archaeological Park of Capo Colonna

On the promontory of Capo Colonna, south of Crotone, resides the Archaeological Park of Capo Colonna created by the "Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Calabria". At the entrance there is the new Archaeological Museum of Capo Colonna, which shows artefacts found in the adjacent excavation area; the Antiquarium that exhibits finds dating back to the Iron Age and the Bronze Age, as well as underwater archaeological remains coming from the stretch of sea off Crotone and Capo Colonna and several architectural and archaeological artifacts along with remains related to the great Sanctuary of Hera Lacinia.

• The National Archaeological Museum of Crotone

Housed in a building in the old town of Crotone, the National Archaeological Museum is among the greater of Calabria for the abundance of exposed artefacts. Among the most important remains it is possible to admire the artefacts of the excavation of the ancient Kroton, of the sanctuaries of Heraion Lakinion and Hera Lacinia, the remains of the shipwreck of Punta Scifo and many others, all exhibited in a chronological order starting from the prehistoric age.

• Churches

There is adequate number of churches for the guests to visit.