International cooperation in underwater archaeological research Fort-Royal 1
Mladen Pešić, PhD, Director of the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar (ICUA Zadar) represented the Republic of Croatia on the international scientific team during archaeological research campaign on the ancient Fort-Royal 1 shipwreck. The campaign took place in the late June 2026 at a location offshore Cannes, in the immediate vicinity of the island of Sainte Marguerite on the French Riviera.
Dated at approximately 180 BC, the shipwreck lies at a depth of around 20 metres and represents one of the most significant underwater archaeological sites from the Hellenistic period in the Mediterranean. The exceptionally well-preserved vessel and its cargo provide unique insights into ancient maritime trade, shipbuilding and the daily life of sailors more than two thousand years ago.
During this year's archaeological campaign, researchers documented a remarkable assemblage of finds, including Greco-Italic amphorae, ship equipment, personal belongings of the crew and preserved wooden structural elements of the vessel. Among the most significant discoveries is a rare wooden mechanism that may represent the oldest known hydraulic pump ever discovered, highlighting the exceptional scientific importance of the site.
The international mission was led by the Department of Underwater and Subaquatic Archaeological Research (DRASSM) of the French Ministry of Culture, and brought together leading specialists from the Centre Camille Jullian (CNRS / Aix-Marseille University), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Aix-Marseille University, the Centre for Underwater Archaeology of Catalonia (CASC), the Regional Museum of Ancient Arles, and other institutions and experts in underwater archaeology and cultural heritage protection.
The participation of the Republic of Croatia in the international scientific team once again confirms the international recognition of the Centre as a relevant institution in the field of research, protection, documentation and management of underwater cultural heritage.
The Fort Royal 1 project, inscribed by UNESCO as a Best Practice in the protection of underwater cultural heritage, illustrates the practical application of the core principles of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
The Convention’s 25th anniversary this year further highlites the collective responsibility to preserve underwater archaeological heritage. Among the examples cited by UNESCO is the Croatian System for the Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage at the Velika shallows near Cavtat, Letavica and the Baron Gautsch site, inscribed on the UNESCO Best Practices Register in 2023.
