The Roman ship of the IVth century A.D. shines thanks to nanotechnologies

The Roman ship dating back to the IV century A.D. was found in 1999 in the waters of Lido Marausa, in Trapani. Today, it will return to its splendor thanks to nanotechnologies given by the Milan 4ward360 Company to Sicily.

The ancient wood of the boat will be handled with a special instrumentation thanks to the 4ward360 that bets in Sicily. It is the first time that in Italy nanotechnology will be applied on a historical relic, says the administrator Sabrina Zuccalà.

The treatment will be done under the supervision of some qualified experts of GruppoArte16, specifically, the professor and restorer Franco Fazzio graduated at ISCR, the engineer Renzo Botindari and the coordinator Giovanni Taormina.

The product that will be used for the tests has been specially developed by the 4ward360 laboratories on the basis of the experience of conservation experts and has been called wdLeg50. The latter represents an innovative nanotechnological treatment that will create an invisible protection on the surfaces of the wooden hull. Thanks to its hydro and oil repellent properties, it acts as a protection against eventual condensation deriving from climatic changes and possible external agents, preventing them from attacking the cellulose fiber. In addition, wdLeg50 does not change the breathability of the surface and is able to prevent problems related to the occurrence of any pests such as mosses, fungus or other kind of parasite preventing the decomposition of wood. The applications of this product will not change the visible appearance of the wood, but rather will make it more resistant to high temperatures and UV rays.

The cargo ship about 27 meters leght and 9 meters width, cut through the Sicilian waters when it sank. It is a proof of the conclusion of the first Punic War, which happened in 241 a. C.

During its discovery, at first glance, only the wooden remains of a small portion of an ancient ship appeared. In the same accumulation and on the surrounding backdrop numerous fragments of amphorae were found and thanks to

next technical inspections, it was possible to recover the wreck.

The splendor of this ship, symbol and testimony of the presence of influences beyond the sea, can be admired in the Baglio Anselmi Archaeological Museum of Marsala.