 View of the remains of the Marsala Punic Ship at the Regional Archaeological Museum Baglio Anselmi | |
  Location of the Regional Archaeological Museum Baglio Anselmi | |
| Location | Punta Scario |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°48′04″N 12°25′36″E / 37.80115°N 12.426615°E |
| Type | Site of a sunken ship |
| History | |
| Builder | Punic people |
| Founded | 3rd century BC |
| Abandoned | Believed to have sunk in the mid 3rd century BC |
| Periods | Classical antiquity |
| Cultures | Punic |
| Satellite of | Carthage |
| Associated with | Crew of military and merchant vessels |
| Site notes | |
| Discovered | 1971 |
| Excavation dates | 1971–1974 |
| Archaeologists | Honor Frost |
| Condition | Conserved |
| Ownership | Italy |
The Marsala Punic shipwreck is a third-century-BC shipwreck of two Punic ships. The wreck was discovered in 1969, off the shore of Isola Lunga, not far from Marsala on the western coast of Sicily. It was excavated from 1971 onwards. The excavation, led by Honor Frost and her team, lasted four years and revealed a substantial portion of the hull structure.
The first, more significant wreck, turned out to be an ancient military galley that was named the Marsala Punic Ship. The second ship, dubbed Sister Ship, was identified as a merchant vessel. Inscriptions in Punic script have made it possible to attribute the remains unquestionably to the Punics. Upon its discovery, the Marsala shipwreck was the sole surviving wreck from its era. The Marsala Punic Ship is believed to have played a role in the momentous Battle of the Aegates in 241 BC. The ship's state of preservation, unique features, and artifacts offered a glimpse into the advanced production techniques, and daily life aboard ancient warships. The study of the wreck has advanced current knowledge of the Carthaginian navy at the time of the First Punic War and validated some information provided by ancient sources.