Plants beyond the sea—archaeobotanical evidence from the late Roman shipwreck of Torre Santa Sabina 1 (BR, Italy)

This paper presents the results of an archaeobotanical investigation of the Roman shipwreck Torre Santa Sabina 1 (TSS 1), dated to the late 3rd–1st half of the 4th century ce. The wreck lies in the Camerini inlet (Brindisi, southern Italy), at a depth of 2.8 m and only a short distance from the shore. Probably a merchant vessel, the ship was abandoned after beaching and subsequently submerged due to relative sea-level rise. The 2021 excavation revealed the entire hull, along with amphorae, other containers and a wide range of plant macro-remains. Thanks to the thick sediment layer that completely covered and preserved it, this beached wreck, stranded in very shallow water, provided a rare opportunity for the systematic sampling of hull timbers and the recovery of exceptionally preserved organic materials. This integrated bioarchaeological study discusses four categories of waterlogged ecofacts: wooden hull components, rope fragments, fruit and seed remains and archaeoentomological evidence (insect remains) recovered from sediments accumulated in the bilge well. The study identifies the wood taxa used in the construction, providing insights into shipbuilding techniques, timber selection and the possible geographical origin of the raw materials. It also investigates the plant-based foodstuffs transported as cargo or consumed by the crew, as well as possible short- to medium-term preservation practices. Finally, the study explores seasonal indicators derived from the organic remains to reconstruct the timing of the vessel’s final voyage. The analyses revealed a clear preference for softwood (coniferous) for timber used in planking and large structural components, while hardwoods were primarily used for fastenings and highly stressed elements. The archaeobotanical and archaeoentomological assemblages indicate the presence of fruits, nuts, cereals and ground plant-based products, while the occurrence of insect pests of stored products suggests that cereals may have been part of the ship’s cargo. Seasonal indicators derived from branches, fruits and seeds suggest that the vessel’s final voyage most probably took place between late summer and early autumn.