Treasure at the bottom of the sea. Police divers discover valuable find
Near Naples, off the coast of the Italian island of Capri, a significant discovery has been made, reports the Live Science portal. Police divers have uncovered a large piece of carved obsidian that likely dates back to the Stone Age- about 4,000 years ago.
6:44 PM EST, November 24, 2023
Archaeologists working in Capri have announced the discovery of a large block of obsidian off the island's coast. They speculate that it could have originated from a Stone Age ship carrying valuable goods at the time. However, until now, the remains of the ship have not been identified, and it is suspected that its parts are scattered over a wide area or that the ship may have "lost" its cargo yet continued to sail.
The exact location of the discovery remains undisclosed. Archaeologists plan to extensively examine the area where the obsidian was located and check for more similar treasures nearby. Additional research will be conducted on-site to deduce what might have happened to the ship transporting the goods.
Obsidian Found at the Bottom of the Sea
The block of obsidian, also known as natural glass, was found approximately 131 feet underwater. The discovered fragment measures 11 x 7.9 x 5.9 inches and weighs almost 17.6 pounds. There is also a possibility of more similar objects in the vicinity.
Significantly, signs of chiseling can be seen on the recovered obsidian's surface, indicating to archaeologists that the people of the era used this "core" with sharp edges for cutting, among other things. It's noteworthy to mention that obsidian was typically used for crafting blades, tools, and weapons in the past. This material is considered to be one of the sharpest on Earth.
In essence, obsidian is a rock comprised almost entirely of volcanic glass. The material contains only about 1 percent water in its composition. "Natural glass" forms due to the instantaneous cooling of lava, which then shatters into pieces with sharp edges.
The use of obsidian in the past was constrained mainly to toolmaking. The earliest tools made from this material were created by the oldest Paleolithic culture, known as the Oldowan, dating back to between 2.6 and 1.7 million years ago. Inhabitants of Mesopotamia also made sculptures and decorations from obsidian, while the Aztecs and Mayans used this rock to manufacture ritual knives and mirrors.
