Ratac Promontory on the island of Koločep

In 1997 local divers pointed out the position of a well-preserved post-mediaeval shipwreck with six iron guns clearly visible on the seabed. A short term rescue excavation campaign the following year revealed the presence of a cargo composed of glass ware, metal tools, other metal products such as wire or sheet, semi-finished products and raw material. Although the site is well preserved and easily reachable by divers, and therefore exposed to looting, the site was left without any particular attention until recently.

The official registration of a private collection and new information given by the local divers reveals that the ship contained a great variety of interesting forms of ceramic, glass and metal objects, while the survey organized under the UNESCO Participation program 2008–2009 has revealed some well preserved remains of wooden elements of the ship. The work of documenting of the site in detail is in progress.

Selected bibliography:

Beltrame, C. & I. Radić Rossi. 2008., Progetto Unesco Italo-Croato, L'Archeologo Subacqueo XXIV/2-3, 2008: 21-22.

Jurišić, M. 1998. Hidroarheološka djelatnost Uprave za zaštitu kulturne baštine tijekom godine 1996. i 1997. Obavijesti Hrvatskog arheološkog društva XXX/1: 81-90.

Radić Rossi, I. 2006. Il relitto di una nave mercantile presso l'Isola di Koločep. In Guštin, Gelichi & Spindler 2006 : 71-76.

Radić Rossi, I. & M. Parica. 2009. Stručni očevid na podmorskim arheološkim nalazištima dubrovačkog podmorja. Obavijesti Hrvatskog arheološkog društva XL/3: 72-81.