2,200-year-old Roman shipwreck reveals ancient waterproofing secrets
Researchers have analyzed the 2,200-year-old Ilovik-Paržine 1 shipwreck to uncover ancient Roman waterproofing techniques. The study identified the use of pine tar and beeswax, providing new insights into ancient naval engineering and environmental conditions.
Why it matters
Understanding ancient material science helps historians reconstruct past technologies and trade practices, filling gaps in our knowledge of maritime history.
For as long as people have traveled by sea, ships have needed protection from water, salt, microorganisms, and marine animals such as worms. Yet until the mid-20th century, researchers paid relatively little attention to the non-wood materials used in ancient shipbuilding. Waterproofing materials in particular remain understudied.
A new study published in Frontiers in Materials is helping fill that gap. Researchers in France and Croatia analyzed the protective coating on the Roman Republic shipwreck Ilovik-Paržine 1, which sank about 2,200 years ago off the coast of what is now Croatia.
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