Fabio Portella, a Sicilian diver, has discovered two submerged artefacts that could date back to the great naval battle of 1718 at Capo Passero.
A wooden rudder covered in metal and an iron cannon were discovered on the seabed of south-eastern Sicily by diver Fabio Portella , honorary inspector for underwater cultural heritage of the province of Syracuse.
The finds may be linked to the Battle of Cape Passero , fought on August 11, 1718, between the British and Spanish fleets. Although the two countries were not formally at war, the British fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir George Byng, sank numerous Spanish ships in a single day.
A recovered rudder and a cannon still on the bottom
Portella located the rudder, nearly 5 meters long , in shallow water near Fontane Bianche . It may have resurfaced recently due to changes in the seabed. Estimated to weigh around 800 kg , the artifact was recovered for conservation reasons.
At a depth of 49 meters , the diver also found a 2,5-meter-long iron cannon , still in place. It has so far been tentatively dated between 1500 and 1700.
Testimonies of a lost fleet
According to historical documents, during the battle, approximately 25 Spanish vessels were lost both in the main battle area and along the coast between Gallina and Cicirata , near Avola. The two finds could represent new traces of that dramatic naval retreat.
