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Wrecks
of the island of San Marco in Boccalama
Client:
NAUSICAA, Venice; Consorzio Venezia Ricerche, Venice.
Brief:
-
to
build a scale model of a rascona.
- to
propose a system for salvaging the wrecks of the island
(now submerged) of San Marco in Boccalama.
Date:
2003
One
of the most remarkable examples of marine archeology was
the discovery of a thirteenth century galley and cargo
boat in the Venetian lagoon.These vessels are unique in terms of typology, age and state of
conservation.
The
two ships in were filled with earth and
deliberately sunk on the sides of the island to reinforce
the perimeter which was already being eroded, as the
'crown' of wooden piles surrounding the wreck makes
evident.
This has allowed the perfect conservation of the hulls
which were protected by mud both inside and outside. Only the
topsides are missing because they were removed when the
ships were transformed into embankments.
The
cargo vessel, a rascona, is 23.60 metres long by 6
metres wide, and is characterized by the familiar
structure still in use in our lagoons: a flat bottom with
straight, slightly flared sides, with crescent-shaped ends
and no stems as is usual on riverboats.
See
also:
model of rascona
The galley is 38 metres long and 5 metres wide, it has an
elegant form like a willow leaf. The internal and external
planking and the massive, elaborate mast casing are
perfectly conserved. A discovery that is interesting from
a scientific point of view and also moving is the of
graffitti engraved on the internal planking showing a
vessel that is probably the galley with the groups of
three oars and the stern rudder following the line of the
stern post.
It
is thanks to Ernesto Canal that this discovery was made.
In 1978, during his sistematic research of the
archeological sites of the Venetian lagoon, he found the
submerged remains of the island of San Marco in Boccalama,
part of the constellation of small settlements that
surrounded Venice.
In
1996 a precise monitoring of the area led to the discovery
of the first wreck; in 2001 the actual excavation,
coordinated by the Consorzio Venezia Ricerche, was carried
was by the Consorzio Venezia Nuoca during which the
vessels were brought to light and a photographic survey
was conducted. The ships were then re-covered and the site
re-flooded while further funding is found so that the work
can be completed and the vessels can be salvaged, restored
and conserved at the Venetian Arsenale.
The
reports written by the Scientific Committe, including our
sggestions for salvaging the vessels, are published in the
book:
La
galea di San Marco in Boccalama. Valutazioni scientifiche
per un progetto di recupero, Ada Saggi 1, Venice,
2003.
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:
penzo.gilberto