Massive Byzantine Treasure Recovered From 1200-Year-Old Shipwreck

An exceptional Byzantine treasure, dating back at least 1200 years, has been recovered from a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea, marking one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the Byzantine period in the region. Specialists from the Croatian Conservation Institute (HRZ) announced the major find, which resulted from underwater exploration campaigns conducted in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of the Croatian island of Mljet.

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Due to the exceptional richness and rarity of its cargo, it constitutes one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the Byzantine period in the Mediterranean.

Over the past 19 years, the HRZ has identified 20 shipwrecks in the area, spanning from the 2nd century BCE to the 16th century CE. Among these, a Byzantine shipwreck from the 7th to 8th centuries CE stood out due to its remarkably rich and rare cargo. The institute highlighted the collaborative effort involving divers from the Ministry of the Interior and various diving centers and companies that provided logistical support.

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The most important find consists of four sets of gold belt ornaments, buckles, and finials decorated with emeralds, rubies, and pearls, luxurious elements that adorned the leather belts of high-ranking Byzantine dignitaries, which have not been found until now on the seabed of the Mediterranean.

The recovered artifacts include four sets of gold belt ornaments, buckles, and decorative elements adorned with emeralds, rubies, and pearls. These luxurious items are believed to have belonged to high-ranking Byzantine officials. Additionally, gold coins minted during the reigns of four emperors of the Heraclian dynasty (610-711 CE) were found. An intriguing gold ring depicting one of these emperors has led researchers to hypothesize about the identity of a high-status passenger aboard the sunken vessel, suggesting the ring belonged to someone authorized to seal imperial documents.

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A ring of this type could only have belonged to a person of the highest state or military spheres, authorized to seal the emperor's documents. Therefore, it is assumed that the ring could have been...