Marzamemi 2 “Church Wreck”
Fieldwork in southeast Sicily between 2013 and 2019 focused on survey and excavation of the early 6th-century CE Marzamemi 2 wreck, better known as the “church wreck.” Carrying 100 tons of partially prefabricated columns, capitals, bases, and other architectural and religious decorative elements, the ship offers a new window into trade and interaction in the aftermath of the Roman empire, and especially the driving forces behind both elite and everyday connections within a fragmenting Mediterranean world. The project reflected a collaboration with the Soprintendenza del Mare and Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples as well as other partners. Ongoing work includes the documentation, analysis, and conservation of this unique assemblage to support local exhibition and heritage engagement.
