EXPLORING THE PHOENICIAN SHIPWRECK OFF XLENDI
Exploring the Phoenician Shipwreck off Xlendi, Gozo is the latest Heritage Malta exhibition. The exhibition focuses on the discovery of a Phoenician shipwreck which dates back to 700 BC. Discovered off Xlendi in 2007, at a depth of 110m, this intriguing ancient vessel has attracted worldwide attention since it is the oldest wreck ever found so far in this region.
The exhibition was officially inaugurated by the Hon. Dr Justyne Caruana, Minister of Gozo, Dr. Anton Refalo, Chairman of Heritage Malta, and Prof. Timmy Gambin, Head of Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, at the Gozo Area Office at the Ċittadella. The public will be able to visit this exhibition until the 31st August 2019.
The Phoenicians were renowned as skillful and brave maritime traders who managed to create an impressive commercial network across several countries. Their trading routes are known to have extended as far up into Britain and to Mesopotamian ports and also east to mainland Greece and Crete. Yet the exact routes on which they travelled have remained elusive. The discovery of shipwrecks which date to the Phoenician Period shed further light on the possible trade routes of these mysterious Phoenician merchants.