6th century bc shipwreck off Sicily

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/12/a-sunken-ship-from-the-6th-century-bc-stone-and-iron-anchors-found-off-the-southern-coast-of-sicily/

But why did it sink....

[Duncan Head]

I wondered what "su guscio" in the article meant, but https://archaeologymag.com/2024/12/6th-century-bce-shipwreck-discovered-off-sicily/ informs me it's "shell first" (as opposed to "frame first").

[Nick Harbud]

That sounds entirely reasonable.  Galley hulls during this period and for several centuries afterwards were constructed shell first.  That is, first a monococque of planks held together by mortice and tenon joints was built up before being strengthened with interior beams and stringers.

Morrison and Coates describe the process in detail.