Jeff Royal Archaeological Director RPM Nautical Foundation Co-Director Albanian Coastal Survey Project Director Montenegrin Coastal Survey Project Illyrian Coastal Exploration Program The 2009 Campaign Overview Fieldwork along the eastern Adriatic coast in 2009 marked the initial campaign conducted and coordinated under the research initiative of the Illyrian Coastal Exploration Program (ICEP). The goals of the program, introduced in this FIG 1 Overview of the survey areas for the 2009 field season. J. Royal, RPMNF. 45 the INA Annual ~ 2009 Projects publication (Royal 2009), are to bring together numerous research institutes in an effort to investigate the eastern Adriatic coast. At the core of this program is a survey of the littoral region, out to the c. 100-m contour, spearheaded by RPM Nautical Foundation (RPMNF). The goal of the survey is to document all submerged cultural finds in an effort to assist the countries involved with the protection and scholarly research of these finds. This process is underway in Albania and Montenegro, and efforts are underway to organize fieldwork in Croatia for 2011. Among the entities involved in the program are the Albanian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Albanian Institute of Archaeology (AIA), Butrint National Trust (BNT), Montenegro Ministry of Culture, Regional Center for Underwater De-Mining (RCUD), Montenegro Center for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (CPCH), Institute of Nautical Archaeology, Trinity University-San Antonio, U.S. Embassy-Montenegro. Efforts of many individuals make the program possible, among them are Dr. Adrian Anastasi (AIA), Co-Director in Albania, Auron Tare (BNT), Veselin Mijajlovic (RCUD), and Dr. Vilma Kovacevic (CPCH). Survey Plan Survey operations with a hull-mounted multibeam sonar were undertaken during May and June by RPMNF’s R/V Hercules. Detailed bathymetric data was collected first in Albania then continued in Montenegro (Figure 1). Overlapping survey lanes along the contours of the seafloor ensured 200% coverage of the seafloor and the ability to detect anomalies. Anomalies were verified primarily with a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operated from the R/V Hercules, except for a few in shallow areas of c. 5-35 m of depth where divers were utilized in Albania. Once the research vessel was positioned over an FIG 2 anomaly location, the ROV was deployed. A forward-scanning Multibeam coverage from 2007-9 sonar affixed to the ROV facilitated the location of each in Albania Map by J. Royal, RPMNF anomaly and aided in the examination of the area surrounding each anomaly for scattered objects. Each site or submerged find was recorded with the ROV’s multiple video cameras. When deemed necessary, and conservation facilitates were available, objects were raised to assist in determining the date, provenience, and nature of the site or find. When geologic formations were encountered, they were scanned for cultural material that often is trapped when drag nets or currents push them onto rocks. In addition to the multibeam survey, diver investigation was conducted in selected near-shore areas of Albania in order to gain an understanding of the presence of shallow-water material cultural. The dive team was expanded during the 2009 field season with the participation of volunteers from numerous organizations. Diver investigation included sections of coast all along the survey area. No beacons were attached to divers during operations; however, the locations of the dive boat, buoys placed at the furthest extents of the survey, and buoys at finds were recorded. Divers were armed with amphora www.inadiscover.com 46 FIG 3 left Multibeam coverage for 2009 in Montenegro. Map by J. Royal, RPMNF. FIG 4 opposite The Gjergantas Bank formation and position of the Joni wreck site in IVS Fledermaus; note the site’s anomaly image in the lower left corner. Graphic by J. Royal, RPMNF identification slates, still cameras, scales, was approximately 28 km2; the bays stray material near anomalies and sites, and drawing slates for recording finds. have a general depth of c. 30 m with a was facilitated by a forward-scanning In Albania, the 2009 multibeam maximum of 60 m in spring holes. R/V sonar affixed to the ROV. Once cultural survey addressed gaps and unfinished Hercules approached very close to shore material was located and positions areas within the section surveyed during in some sections and also passed in recorded, a visual investigation ensued the 2008 season, and subsequently depths as shallow as 12 m. The coverage through the use of still and video continued northwards (Figure 2). area on the outer coast was c. 32.5 km2 cameras. Scale was provided with a laser From the southernmost point at the and ranged from 17–100 m. affixed to the ROV that provides two Greek border, the survey has progressed Data from the multibeam operations 10-cm spaced points. northward to Porto Palermo in three was processed during, and directly seasons, a distance along the coast after, the collection phase to produce Geologic Findings of c. 50 km.1 Once the operation three-dimensional models of the After completing the processing of progressed north of Corfu (Greece), it seafloor, which was then analyzed for data acquired during 2009 in Albania, was possible to extend the survey area anomalies.2 Anomalies were examined ands its collation with previous further offshore out to the c. 80-100 m for association with either geologic season’s, the areas north of Saranda contour. The survey plan formulated for formations or deposits consistent with around Cape Qefalit and extending Montenegro for this inaugural season shipwreck sites, the latter were plotted northward possess a large number of was based on the areas of interest of for verification. Once mapped out rock formations in the deepest sectors RCUD and CPCH representatives, in navigation and spatial recording of the survey area. Some formations particularly the bays of Kotor and Risan software, the R/VHercules navigated near the cape form linear patterns (Figure 3). Founded in the 5th century into position over anomalies and the extending tens of kilometers, while BCE, the city of Risan includes remains ROV equipped with a transponder was the formations further from shore from the Illyrian and Roman eras as well deployed.3 The software also allowed the are more heterogeneous in size and as the medieval period. Additionally, the real-time tracking of the R/V Hercules pattern. These rock formations do survey of the outer coastline began with and ROV within a three-dimensional not appear within 5-6 km of shore the area directly opposite the entrance seafloor model, and to obtain precise N of Cape Qefalit, where they are into Tivat Bay (Boka Kotorska) and locations for sites and random finds. apparently buried under sediment extended Cape Mačka. Combined the During verification operations, the layers. Ascertaining the possibility of surveyed areas of Kotor and Risan Bays locating of each anomaly, as well as rapid and massive geologic modification 47 the INA Annual ~ 2009 Projects of this area is beyond the scope of this explanations: the charts are in error, interesting results for understanding the report. However, once multibeam lanes or there has been a large amount of nature of the seafloor. The bottom is at were run in a roughly E-W direction sedimentation in this area that has a consistent depth of c. 30 m, gradually (perpendicular to shore) just to the dramatically changed the seafloor decreases in depth at the towns of N of Cape Qefalit in order to adjoin the topography. Risan and Kotor, and is composed of 2008 multibeam coverage, the surveyors Other evidence that indicates a soft, silt stratum on the surface. In noted that depths indicated on the discrepancies in the survey for charting the central portion of this bay system current charts in use for this section purposes and ICEP data is for the large are numerous fresh-water springs fed of the Albanian coast were in error. rock outcrop near shore (Gjergantas from the surrounding mountains Actual depths were much greater for Bank) that extends to within c. 2 that rise to over 800 m. These springs the position on the chart; for example, meters of the surface in several places maintain large craters formed in the areas recorded as c. 90 m of depth were (Figure 4). This obvious navigation seafloor with depths from 45–60 m, actually 75-m deep. Hence, the area hazard does not extend to shore as which demonstrate the vast amount possible to survey is greatly extended indicated on charts. Recent work along of sediment deposited from the wash from shore than was indicated during the Croatian coast indicates the eastern off the surrounding peaks. Tidal and the planning phases of the field season shore of the Adriatic is undergoing circulatory currents as well as seasonal based on chart data. This increased area subduction at varying rates. Combined storm action move the sediment out of requires a greater time commitment to with the sea-level rise over the past the bays to the coastal entrance where it complete; consequently the survey did several millennia, submerged Roman- dissipates southward down the coast. not reach out to the 100-m contour era structures indicate an overall rise in the Porto Palermo area. Coverage in relative sea-level from 1–3 m. Given Sites and Other Finds was completed to Porto Palermo out this difference in historical sea level, Modern Sites to the 40-50 m contour in order to the Devil’s Tongue formation must Three modern wreck sites were allow room for vessel maneuvering and have presented a particularly dangerous discovered during the 2009 field season, free the surveyors to plan the most navigation hazard in antiquity. all of which are in the coastal section efficient lanes for covering the area.