Can anyone tell me what these may be, or how old they are?

by [deleted]

I'm not sure if this is the right sub-reddit, really sorry if it isn't but I couldn't find any other relevant sub.

We went diving off the coast of Albania, and found these.

http://i.imgur.com/cvrVmKm.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/iyFAuQ9.jpg

There are sunken ships around the area, and these were found embedded in the sea bed. I have no idea how old they may be, what they might be worth, or anything.

If anyone has any idea what they are, I'd be really interested to know.

Edit: someone offered me $500 is it worth it?

Pr0cedure

You should not have removed these artifacts from their context. Seriously, it's illegal in most places and prevents archaeologists from being able to do their job; an artifact tells us so much more when it is documented in context than when it is removed.

LoneKharnivore

Congratulations, you're a looter!

Museum, now.

CommodoreCoCo

As an archaeologist, this is an attitude I see a lot from local people: "They're taking the stuff too, aren't they just glorified looters?" I think this thread's existence explains why that idea is ridiculous.

Archaeologists collect artifacts to learn from them, compile what we have learned, and formulate theories that are published and shared. If it's something "cool," anyone can go to a museum and see it. A simple vessel like that is a lot more useful for archaeologists than it is interesting to you, and we can use our knowledge and skills to share with the public.

By taking this vessel, you are keeping it and whatever it my tell us for yourself. Put it on display in your house, and maybe your guests get to see it to. No one else can. Yes, the odds of someone putting this on a display in a museum is low. It'll get tagged and stored and brought out occasionally, if ever, to analyze or photograph. Keeping it for yourself excludes even the possibility of it benefiting anyone else. When was the last time you visited a private collection to see ancient art or read a news article about a collector discovering something in his acquisitions?

The difference is that a museum knows what it is. As you have admitted, you have no idea what they are or when they're from. Someone who works in the region could likely give you both of the top of their head. The very fact that you have to make this thread should trigger something that says "Maybe I'm not the right person to have these."

I urge you to contact a local museum/university to inquire what should be done with them and to record exactly the place you found them. As has been said before, it is illegal in most places to disturb artifacts, especially of this size. In future dives, be sure to leave everything alone, just as you would flora and fauna. If you see something interesting, tell someone who actually knows what it is.

Imazagi

These are amphorae, shipping containers used to store and transport wine, oil or even dry goods like grain. Finding these is very common along both shores of the Adriatic, particularly in former or still used ports and bays where many were dropped during (un-)loading.

My Croatian family owns a few of them, found diving in the sixties.

Removing and taking these (and taking them out of the country) has been a criminial offense with steep fines for decades and I am sure that the same holds true for Albania. Although they can be very common, their style is an important clue helping to date a shipwreck or the colonisation timeline of a locality.

Inform yourself about the legal repercussions and the proper official authorities that deal with maritime archaeology and hand them over, please.

EmperorOfMeow

With so many undamaged amphorae, there's very likely a previously unknown shipwreck there. Notify the museum ASAP.

EyeStache

Contact your museum. Right now.

Malos_Kain

Contact your museum and show them where you found them.