A military drone stumbles upon massive underwater wreck and finds something that shouldn’t be there
While on a routine military mission off the southern coast of France, a Navy drone uncovered the country’s deepest known shipwreck—and something inside left experts stunned.
What began as a routine military scan of the seafloor turned into one of the most “remarkable” archaeological finds in recent French history.
While surveying the Mediterranean seabed in March, a French Navy drone unexpectedly located a centuries-old shipwreck resting more than 8,200 feet below the surface—making it the deepest discovery of its kind in French territorial waters.
The discovery beneath the waves
The wreck was found near Ramatuelle, a small coastal town on France’s southern edge, during a military operation aimed at monitoring underwater activity.
According to France’s Department of Underwater Archaeological Research—a division of the French Ministry of Culture—the drone stumbled upon a 16th-century merchant ship measuring around 98 feet long and 23 feet wide.
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What made this discovery even more striking was the cargo still resting inside: roughly 200 hand-painted ceramic jars, ornate dinnerware, bronze cooking cauldrons, anchors, and several old naval cannons.
Why experts are calling it “notable”
Archaeologists are calling the find “remarkable” not just because of the depth—over 2,500 meters (or 8,200 feet)—but because of the remarkable preservation and the glimpse it offers into maritime trade during the Renaissance era.
Officials emphasized that such a discovery marks a milestone in the exploration of France’s seafloor, which remains largely uncharted, even in the modern era.
Public reaction: awe and intrigue
After French authorities made the discovery public, online users were quick to express their amazement.
“Such beautiful pottery! What an incredible find!” one person commented on social media.Another simply called it, “Extraordinary.”
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