The Venetian Warships of Lake Garda. News of the Benacus Project: What If Fresh Water Is No Longer Protective?
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heritage
Article
The Venetian Warships of Lake Garda. News of the Benacus
Project: What If Fresh Water Is No Longer Protective?
Massimo Capulli
Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage, University of Udine, Vicolo Florio 2/b, 33100 Udine, Italy;
massimo.capulli@uniud.it
Abstract: With the French at the door, on May 31st of 1509, the Head of the Venetian Garda fleet
received the order to burn and sink the ships and come back to Venice: the war on the lake was
temporarily lost. The small fleet, whose base was at Lazise, was formed by one light galley and
two fustas, so the commandant sunk the galley and one fusta in front of the town and went with
the third ship to the northern lake to take a safe trip to Venice on horseback. One shipwreck was
discovered in 1960 and was studied in several campaigns, but it was not clear if it was a small galley
or a large fusta. New research was started in 2018 with BENĀCUS, a project of the Department of
Humanities and Cultural Heritage of the University of Udine, in a joint venture with the Trieste and
Firenze Universities, and under the Superintendency for the Archaeology, Arts and Landscape of
the provinces of Verona, Vicenza and Rovigo. The aim of this project was an historical research and
geophysical survey to map the underwater cultural heritage (UCH) of Garda Lake.
Keywords: underwater archaeology; shipwreck; conservation; galley; zebra mussel
1. Introduction
The Benacus project was born from the agreement with the Superintendence of Verona
and in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics and Geosciences of the University
of Trieste, and the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Florence. The
project focuses on the research and the mapping of the submerged cultural heritage of Lake
Citation: Capulli, M. The Venetian
Warships of Lake Garda. News of the
Garda (Figure 1) using an interdisciplinary method that can be summarized as follows:
Benacus Project: What If Fresh Water
collection and analysis of historical and archival sources, combing of the unpublished
Is No Longer Protective? Heritage archaeological material available at the offices of the Superintendence, organization of
2023, 6, 1594–1604. https://doi.org/ remote sensing campaigns, and ground truthing of anomalies.
10.3390/heritage6020085 The area selected for a first experimentation (object of the present contribution) sits
across the line that divides the lake between the communes of Lazise and Garda, where
Academic Editor: Deborah Cvikel
the so-called Galea lies. We are using the known position of the Galea as a starting point
Received: 20 December 2022 for the calibration of the instruments, and we believe that the second shipwreck, not yet
Revised: 28 January 2023 identified, should lie in the same part of the lake.
Accepted: 30 January 2023
Published: 2 February 2023
Copyright: © 2023 by the author.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
Heritage 2023, 6, 1594–1604. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020085 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/heritage
Heritage 2023,66, FOR PEER REVIEW
Heritage2023, 15952
Figure1.1.General
Figure General geographic
geographic framework
framework (created
(created by Massimo
by Massimo Capulli; background
Capulli; background Image
Image ©Google).
© Google).
2. Historical Background
2. Historical Background
The Serenissima Republic of Venice made use of its maritime ability also for the
The Serenissima Republic of Venice made use of its maritime ability also for the con-
conquest and the maintenance of the “Dominio di Terraferma” [1,2], with a capillary
controland
quest the maintenance
of rivers and lakes. of the “Dominio di Terraferma” [1,2], with a capillary control
of rivers and lakes.
The regions of northern Italy are in fact crossed by many waterways, which are often
wide Theand regions of northern
almost always Italy are inand
slow-moving, factfor
crossed
these by manyallowed
reasons waterways, Venicewhich are often
to make the
best use of the knowledge and technology that were most peculiar to it: that is to bring the
wide and almost always slow-moving, and for these reasons allowed Venice to make as
best use
close of the knowledge
as possible and technology
to the battlefields the navalthat unitswerethatmost
had peculiar to it: thatitistotoestablish
already allowed bring as
close
its as possible
dominance onto the the battlefields
seas. The usethe naval units
of properly that hadriver
equipped alreadyfleets allowed
gave way it totoestablish
a new
approach to land wars; this meant not only a faster movement of men and means, but aalso
its dominance on the seas. The use of properly equipped river fleets gave way to new a
approach
new to land
flexibility wars;[3].
of attack thisAlong
meantthe notcourse
only aof faster movement
the rivers, of mendefensive
real natural and means, but also
structures,
a new
the flexibilitycould
Serenissima of attack
move[3].its Along the course
naval units with greatof the rivers, real
freedom natural defensive
and rapidity, equippedstruc- with
tures, the Serenissima could move its naval units with
artillery more or less heavy depending on the type of boats used. This is the case of Lakegreat freedom and rapidity,
equipped
Garda, the with
largest artillery
lake inmore
Italy,or less heavy
where a fleet depending
was set up to onguard
the type theof boats used.
Venetian ThisItsis
waters.
the case of Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, where
presence was also guaranteed by resorting to an amazing feat, which was called galeas a fleet was set up to guard the
Venetian
per montes. waters. Its presence was also guaranteed by resorting to an amazing feat, which
was Thecalled galeasofper
episode themontes.
transport of a Venetian fleet through the mountains is to be ascribed
to theThewarepisode
betweenofthe theRepublic
transportofofVenicea Venetian
and the fleet through
Duchy of Milanthe mountains
(1426–1454isAD). to beThe as-
cribed to
conflict wasthetriggered
war between theVenetians
by the Republic of whoVenice
wanted and totheconsolidate
Duchy of Milan their (1426–1454
power overAD). the
The conflict
Lombard was triggered
possessions, when bythey
the Venetians
waged a who wantedwar
preventive to consolidate
against thetheir Dukepower over
of Milan,
the Lombard
Filippo Visconti. possessions,
Venice hired when theycaptain
a great waged aofpreventive
fortune named war against
Nicolò the Duke of
Piccinino [4],Milan,
who
Filippo
was Visconti.
victorious in aVenice hired
series of a great
clashes captain
in the landsof offortune
Brescia,named
but above Nicolò Piccinino
all, was also a[4], who
skillful
was victorious
diplomat, and thusin a series of clashes
succeeded in the lands
in detaching from of Venice
Brescia,his butprecious
above all, was alsoally
Mantuan a skillful
who
controlled
diplomat, the andsouthern part of the
thus succeeded lake [5]. from Venice his precious Mantuan ally who
in detaching
The city
controlled theofsouthern
Brescia, partwhich of had always
the lake [5]. been faithful to the Serenissima, found itself
besiegedThe city of Brescia, which had alwaysand
by Milanese troops, without men been provisions.
faithful toThe thesituation
Serenissima, did notfoundseem to
itself
leave
besiegedany byhope in sight,troops,
Milanese as the without
connections menwith
and Venice were The
provisions. precluded,
situation both
didfor notthe plain
seem to
and
leaveforanymosthopeof inthesight,
lake as
of the
Garda, which were
connections withnow in the
Venice were hands of Piccinino.
precluded, both forHowever,
the plain
there
and forwasmoststill aofroute that of
the lake remained
Garda, possible,
which were an alternative
now in theroute hands known for a longHowever,
of Piccinino. time [6],
which
there wasfromstill
Brescia
a routeallowed one to reach
that remained the portanofalternative
possible, Ponale in the routenorthknownof thefor
lake through
a long time
the Val Sabbia and the Valle di Ledro. In order to connect Ponale
[6], which from Brescia allowed one to reach the port of Ponale in the north of the lake to the Veronese shore
of the lake,
through thewhich
Val Sabbiawas under
and the Venetian
Valle dicontrol,
Ledro. In it was
ordernecessary
to connect toPonale
stationto ships on Lake
the Veronese
Garda. As the enemy controlled the southern part of the lake,
shore of the lake, which was under Venetian control, it was necessary to station ships on where there is the emissary
that
Lakeconnects
Garda. itAstothe the enemy
sea, in December
controlled1438 the Venetian
the southern partSenate
of thedecided
lake, whereto send a fleet
there to
is the
Heritage 2023, 6, FOR PEER REVIEW 3
Heritage 2023, 6 1596
emissary that connects it to the sea, in December 1438 the Venetian Senate decided to send
a fleet to Garda through the mountains [7]. This prodigious feat was also recorded in a
map, called
Garda through thethe
Almagià
mountainsmap, [7].
made between
This prodigious1463 and
feat 1467
was alsoon parchment
recorded in and has an
a map, area
called
of almost seven square meters [8].
the Almagià map, made between 1463 and 1467 on parchment and has an area of almost
sevenAccording
square meters to most [8]. sources, the fleet was composed of two light galleys, three fustas
and According
twenty-fivetocopani ([9], pp. the
most sources, 12–15);
fleetthewasfleet arrived of
composed at two
the mouth of the river
light galleys, three Adige,
fustas
which
and went up until
twenty-five copani beyond Verona,
[9], (pp. 12–15);and theusing logs andatnumerous
fleet arrived the mouthoxen, of theitriver
crossed the
Adige,
pass atwent
which Moriup until it reached
until beyondTorbole
Verona,and andthenusingthelogs
lakeand
(Figure 2). The incredible
numerous operation
oxen, it crossed the
of the
pass at Serenissima
Mori until it succeeded
reached Torbole in its and
intent,
then andtheBrescia was rescued.
lake (Figure The following
2). The incredible year,
operation
however, the Venetian fleet was destroyed by that of Piccinino.
of the Serenissima succeeded in its intent, and Brescia was rescued. The following year, A second fleet was there-
fore prepared,
however, but notfleet
the Venetian sentwasfrom Venice by
destroyed because
that ofthe enterprise
Piccinino. through
A second fleetthe
wasmountains,
therefore
although but
prepared, successful,
not sent was fromvery
Venice challenging
because theand expensive.
enterprise It was
through thethus decidedalthough
mountains, to send
pieces, made
successful, wasonverythe challenging
model of a light galley designed
and expensive. It was by thus master
decided Nicolò
to sendPalopano, to the
pieces, made
lake
on thewhere
model they
of awould be assembled
light galley designed byby Giorgio
masterdiNicolò
Giovanni [10,11].toThis
Palopano, the second
lake where fleetthey
was
would be assembled
more fortunate than by theGiorgio di Giovanni
one transported [10,11].
through theThis second fleet
mountains. was thwarted
Having more fortunatean at-
than
tempt thetoone transported
destroy it when through
it was the stillmountains. Having thwarted
under construction [12], thisansecond
attemptfleet
to destroy
fought
itagainst
when theit was still under
Milanese armyconstruction
and won. Despite [12], this second
these fleet fought
victorious against the
achievements, the Milanese
life of the
army
second and won.
fleet was Despite
almost as these
short. victorious achievements,
In fact, following the famousthe life of the
peace second
of Lodi fleetAD)
(1454 wasit
almost
was laid as to
short.
rest In
in fact, following
the arsenal the famous
of Lazise. Some peace of Lodi
scholars have(1454 AD) that
argued it wasthelaid to rest
ships basedin
the arsenaland
at Lazise of Lazise.
sunk during Some thescholars havewar
Cambrai argued that the
belonged to ships based
the first, at Lazise
older and sunk
fleet [13,14], alt-
during
hough thethisCambrai
hypothesis warseems
belonged
unlikelyto theto first, older fleet
us because [13,14],that
it implies although this hypothesis
these vessels lasted 70
seems
years. unlikely to us because it implies that these vessels lasted 70 years.
Figure 2.2. Route
Figure Route of
of the
the ships
ships from
from Venice
Veniceto
toLake
LakeGarda:
Garda: the
the line
line through
through the
the Adige
Adige River
River and
and the
the
points the passage through the mountains (created by Massimo Capulli; background
points the passage through the mountains (created by Massimo Capulli; background Image ©Google). Image
© Google).
Since the birth of the “Dominio di Terraferma”, at the beginning of the 14th century,
Since thehad
the Venetians birth of the
kept “Dominio
a strategy di Terraferma”,
in foreign policy aimedat the
at beginning of the 14th
breaking adversary century,
coalitions,
the Venetians
but had kept
this mechanism wasa strategy in foreign
broken when policy aimed at breaking
the representatives adversary
of the Emperor coalitions,
Maximilian I
but
of this mechanism
Hapsburg, wasofbroken
Louis XII Francewhen the representatives
and Ferdinand the Catholicof the Emperor
King Maximilian
of Aragon signed Ian of
Hapsburg, treaty
anti-Venice Louis on
XII10
ofDecember
France and Ferdinand
1508, the Catholic
in Cambrai, King in
a small town of the
Aragon
northsigned an anti-
of France [15].
Later,
Veniceontreaty
23 March
on 101509, the League
December 1508, was completed
in Cambrai, with town
a small the accession of Pope
in the north Julius [15].
of France II.
Even
Later, onMarch
on 23 the lake, the
1509, theVenetians
League was prepared for the
completed withwarthethat now seemed
accession of Popeimminent.
Julius II.
Usually,
Evena Captain elected
on the lake, the by the Council
Venetians of Verona
prepared commanded
for the war that now the Garda
seemedfleet, but in
imminent.
this particular
Usually, case, elected
a Captain circumstances the Senate
by the Council of the Serenissima
of Verona commanded had
thethis prerogative,
Garda fleet, butso in
on 21 April 1509 Zaccaria Loredan was elected to this position [16], (p. 113).
this particular case, circumstances the Senate of the Serenissima had this prerogative, so A Venetian
patrician of proven
on 21 April experience,
1509 Zaccaria having
Loredan was already
elected tobeen
thiscaptain
position of([16],
bastardpp.galleys, Loredan
113). A Venetian
was ordered to go to Garda, together with some sailors and crossbowmen, to rearrange
the ships in the arsenal of Lazise and prepare for combat. However, following the defeat
Heritage 2023, 6, FOR PEER REVIEW 4
Heritage 2023, 6 patrician of proven experience, having already been captain of bastard galleys, Loredan 1597
was ordered to go to Garda, together with some sailors and crossbowmen, to rearrange
the ships in the arsenal of Lazise and prepare for combat. However, following the defeat
suffered by
suffered by the
the Venetians
Venetiansat atAgnadello
Agnadello on on 14
14May
May1509,
1509, the
the French
French militia
militia of
of Louis
Louis XII
XII
swept into the mainland without almost any resistance, so much so that the
swept into the mainland without almost any resistance, so much so that the Venetian SenateVenetian Sen-
ate ordered
ordered its Captain
its Captain of Garda
of the the Garda forces
forces to burn
to burn the galley
the galley andand the fustas
the fustas (a small
(a small nar-
narrow
row galley),
galley), and return
and return to their
to their landslands
[16],([16], pp. 316).
(p. 316). So,
So, in in order
order not not to surrender
to surrender the the ships
ships to
to the
the enemy,
enemy, on 31onMay
31 May
1509,1509, a few
a few hundred
hundred meters
meters away away
fromfrom the port
the port of Lazise,
of Lazise, Zac-
Zaccaria
caria Loredan
Loredan carriedcarried
out theout the of
order order
the of the Senate
Senate andthem.
and sank sank them.
3.
3. The
The Shipwreck
Shipwreck of of Lazise
Lazise
The
Thepresence
presenceof ofthe
the Venetian
Venetianshipsshipshashasalways
alwaysremained
remainedalive aliveamong
amongthe theinhabitants
inhabitants
of
of Lazise
Lazise andand especially
especially among
among the the fishermen,
fishermen, who who sometimes
sometimes found
found pieces
pieces of
of wood
wood inin
their nets [17]. After a fortuitous sighting in 1958 by a diver who was looking
their nets [17]. After a fortuitous sighting in 1958 by a diver who was looking for a missing for a missing
person,
person,the theofficial
officialdiscovery
discoveryofofa shipwreck
a shipwreck took place
took placein in
thethe
summer
summer of 1962, when
of 1962, Enrico
when En-
Scandurra, a volunteer working with the Museum of Natural History
rico Scandurra, a volunteer working with the Museum of Natural History of Verona, spot- of Verona, spotted
it.
tedStarting in the
it. Starting in same
the sameyearyearhe conducted
he conducted some excavation
some excavationcampaigns
campaigns which ended
which in
ended
1968 [18].[18].
in 1968 These werewere
These followed by four
followed by other campaigns
four other on theon
campaigns same
theshipwreck on behalf
same shipwreck on
of the Italian
behalf Ministry
of the Italian of Cultural
Ministry Heritage:
of Cultural in 1990
Heritage: in [19],
1990 1996 [20], [20],
[19], 1996 1998 1998
and and
20032003
[9],
(pp. 37–60).
([9], pp. 37–60).
Therefore,
Therefore, only only one
one ofof the
the ships
ships was
was excavated
excavated and and identified
identified asas the
the “galley.”
“galley.” The
The
wreck
wreck lies at a depth between 24 and 27 m, on a muddy seabed, about 500 m
lies at a depth between 24 and 27 m, on a muddy seabed, about 500 m from
from the
the
modern
modernport portofofLazise
Lazise(Figure
(Figure3). 3).
Figure3.3.The
Figure Thearea
area of the
of the shipwreck
shipwreck of Lazise
of Lazise (created
(created by Massimo
by Massimo Capulli; background
Capulli; background Image
Image ©Google).
© Google).
The hull, which has been preserved for a total length of just under 30 m and a max-
imumThe hull,ofwhich
width threehas
andbeen preserved
a half meters,for liesa total
in a length
doublyofinclined
just under 30 m and
position dueato maxi-
the
mum width ofofthree
conformation and a half
the seabed, whichmeters, lies insloping.
is slightly a doubly inclined
Several position elements
constituent due to the ofcon-
the
formation
vessel of the seabed,
are preserved: thewhich is slightly
keel, the frames,sloping. Several
the keelson, theconstituent
mast step elements
(Figure 4)ofand
the one
ves-
bilge stringer
sel are [9], (pp.
preserved: the 99–117).
keel, the frames, the keelson, the mast step (Figure 4) and one bilge
stringer ([9], pp. 99–117).
Heritage 2023,
Heritage 6, FOR
2023, 6 PEER REVIEW 5
1598
Figure 4. 4.
Figure The hull
The hullofofthe
theshipwreck
shipwreck of
of Lazise (created
(createdby
byMassimo
Massimo Capulli;
Capulli; background
background Image
Image [9],35).
[9], p.
p. 35).
, FOR PEER REVIEW 6
Heritage 2023, 6 The latest research of 2003 has allowed the identification of the master frame, which 1599
is fourteen meters and seventy-two centimeters from the bow and fourteen meters and
seventy-six centimeters from the stern, placing the center of gravity in the middle of the
length of the ship. This Themeans
latest research
that theof 2003
hull hasbuilt
was allowed the identification
following of the master cri-
the fifteenth-century frame, which
is fourteen meters and seventy-two centimeters from the
teria [21], because only from the following century was the center of gravity moved to- bow and fourteen meters and
seventy-six centimeters from the stern, placing the center of gravity in the middle of the
wards the bow, probably to compensate for the weight of the rembata. This was a sort of
length of the ship. This means that the hull was built following the fifteenth-century
platform, transverse to the axis of the ship, on which the heavy artillery was placed. On
criteria [21], because only from the following century was the center of gravity moved
the other hand, according
towards thetobow,ourprobably
studies,tothere are stillfor
compensate doubts about
the weight of the type of ship
the rembata. of a sort of
This was
this hull. As mentioned
platform,above, on to
transverse thethesame day
axis of thethe Venetians
ship, on which thesank the artillery
heavy two shipswas near
placed. On the
Lazise, a galley and a fusta, they sailed on the second fusta to a point further
other hand, according to our studies, there are still doubts about the type north where
of ship of this
they could disembark and
hull. As return toabove,
mentioned Venice on on
thehorseback
same day the ([16], pp. 333–334).
Venetians sank the two ships near Lazise, a
Of the shipsgalley
sunk and a fusta, only
in Lazise, they sailed
one hason the second
been fusta to aand
discovered point further northuncriti-
immediately where they could
disembark and return to Venice on horseback [16], (pp.
cally believed to be the medieval galley. Comparing the measurements of the shipwreck 333–334).
Of the ships sunk in Lazise, only one has been discovered and immediately uncritically
of Lazise with the available treatises on Venetian shipbuilding [22], it would not appear
believed to be the medieval galley. Comparing the measurements of the shipwreck of Lazise
to be similar either to the class of the light galleys, or to the larger fustas: it is in fact too
with the available treatises on Venetian shipbuilding [22], it would not appear to be similar
small to be a galley, but
either to at
thethe same
class time
of the too
light large or
galleys, totobethe
one of the
larger largest
fustas: it is documented
in fact too small to be a
fustas (Figure 5). galley, but at the same time too large to be one of the largest documented fustas (Figure 5).
Figure 5. The shipwreck of The
Figure 5. Lazise: between
shipwreck a Venetian
of Lazise: Galley
between and a Galley
a Venetian Fusta (created by (created
and a Fusta Massimo by Massimo
Capulli; background Image [9], p.120).
Capulli; background Image [9], p. 120).
Regardless,
Regardless, this is a very rarethisexample
is a very rare
of a example
medievalof alongship
medieval[23].
longship
Only[23].
theOnly the wrecks of
wrecks
Camarina (XII-XIV AD) in Sicily, which lacks a thorough study [24],
of Camarina (XII-XIV AD) in Sicily, which lacks a thorough study [24], those of Contarina those of Contarina [25]
and the small boat with alternating asymmetric floor-timbers of
[25] and the small boat with alternating asymmetric floor-timbers of Precenicco [26], arePrecenicco [26], are known
in Italy, but mostly the Venetian galley of San Marco in Boccalama (XIV AD) in the Venice
known in Italy, but mostly the Venetian galley of San Marco in Boccalama (XIV AD) in
lagoon, however we only have preliminary studies from both [27,28].
the Venice lagoon, however we only have preliminary studies from both [27,28].
4. The New Research
4. The New ResearchThe first part of the Benacus project involved a study of the historical period from the
The first partVenetian–Visconti war to the
of the Benacus project war of Cambrai
involved a study of[29].
theTherefore,
historicalitperiod
was necessary
from the to order the
diaristic, narrative and literary testimonies on the Venetian Garda
Venetian–Visconti war to the war of Cambrai [29]. Therefore, it was necessary to order the fleet. Subsequently, the
possible
diaristic, narrative archival
and literary sources, which
testimonies on thehave never been
Venetian Garda thoroughly searched, onthe
fleet. Subsequently, the creation,
maintenance and sinking of the Venetian ships of the Garda were examined.
possible archival sources, which have never been thoroughly searched, on the creation,
In particular, a source that provides us with the position of both wrecks, specifying
maintenance andalso sinking
which ofare
thetoVenetian ships
be referred of the
to the Garda
galley and were
whichexamined.
to the fusta, was of fundamental
In particular,importance.
a source that provides us with the position
In fact, both the alignments of landmarks of both wrecks,
and the specifying
distances to the north of the
also which are toportbe and
referred to thethegalley
then from shore and which toWhile
are reported. the fusta, was are
the former of fundamental
no longer usable today,
importance. In fact,
dueboth the changes
to urban alignments of landmarks
that have andthe
occurred over thecenturies,
distances topossible
it is the north of
to reason about
the port and thenthe latter.
from theHowever,
shore arethere was aWhile
reported. small problem
the former about
arethe
no port
longerfrom whichto-
usable to measure
day, due to urbanthechanges
distancethat
to the point
have on the coast
occurred overfrom which to measure
the centuries, the distance
it is possible to the lake. In
to reason
about the latter. However, there was a small problem about the port from which to meas-
ure the distance to the point on the coast from which to measure the distance to the lake.Heritage 2023, 6, FOR PEER REVIEW 7
Heritage 2023, 6 1600
In the
the past past there
there were were twotwo ports,
ports, one one near
near thethe arsenaland
arsenal andone onenear
nearthethecastle,
castle,which
which areare
about 160 m apart. To our advantage we had the exact position
about 160 m apart. To our advantage we had the exact position of one of the wrecks and of one of the wrecks and
were thus
were thus able
able totocompare
comparethe thedata.
data. TheThe result
result waswas that
that thethe known
known shipwreck
shipwreck roughly
roughly
corresponds to the position reported for the galley. In fact,
corresponds to the position reported for the galley. In fact, the distance from the coastthe distance from the coast
perfectly corresponds
perfectly corresponds to to the
the position
position of of the
the galley,
galley,while
while thethedistance
distance of of the
the point
point onon the
the
shoretowards
shore towardsthe thesouth
southisisbeyond
beyondthe theport
portof ofthe
thearsenal
arsenalandandaafewfewmeters
metersbeyond
beyondthatthatofof
the Castle, which is probably the port mentioned by the literary
the Castle, which is probably the port mentioned by the literary source. It is quite evidentsource. It is quite evident
that by
that by using
using this
this system
system we we were
were ableable to
tocalculate
calculate thethe point
point where
where thethe other
other shipwreck
shipwreck
should presumably be located. Although at this point, we had
should presumably be located. Although at this point, we had managed to circumscribe the managed to circumscribe
the area
area of theofsite,
the site, an extensive
an extensive survey survey was planned.
was planned. Specifically,
Specifically, we should
we should have have
used used
side
side sonar
scan scan sonar
in case inthe
case the remains
remains of the ofhullthesathull
proud sat of
proud of the
the lake lake bottom,
bottom, while for while
buriedfor
buried anomalies,
anomalies, as an alternative
as an alternative to theSub
to the classic classic SubProfiler,
Bottom Bottom we Profiler,
wanted wetowanted
jointly to jointly
use ERT
use ERT (Electrical
(Electrical ResistivityResistivity
Tomography) Tomography)
and GPR (Groundand GPRPenetrating
(Ground Penetrating
Radar). TheRadar).
advantage The
advantage offered by this methodology, usable in freshwater, already
offered by this methodology, usable in freshwater, already successfully tested in the Stella successfully tested
in the[30],
River Stella
is River [30],identify
to clearly is to clearly identify aalso
a shipwreck, shipwreck, also inofthe
in the absence absence
other of other
artifacts, arti-
because
facts,
the becausewood
preserved the preserved woodinsulator
is an electrical is an electrical
even wheninsulator
soaked.evenThis
when soaked. This
investigation, inves-
initially
suspended due tosuspended
tigation, initially the limitationsdue imposed by the COVID-19
to the limitations imposed health emergency,health
by the COVID-19 was carried
emer-
out during
gency, was2021.
carried Specifically,
out duringthe 2021.survey was conducted
Specifically, the survey by was
Explora srl, a Spin-Off
conducted by Exploraof the
srl,
University
a Spin-Off of Trieste, using mainly
the University multi
of Trieste, beam
using technology
mainly (MBES).
multi beam The instrument
technology (MBES).used The
was the Norbit
instrument used iWBMS
was theintegrated
Norbit iWBMS with the Applanix
integrated Wave
with Master GNSS
the Applanix Wave for all attitude
Master GNSS
and motion checks, while the system was interfaced to the on-board
for all attitude and motion checks, while the system was interfaced to the on-board com- computer where QPS
Qinsy software
puter where QPS provided the information
Qinsy software provided forthe
navigation
information andfor thenavigation
recording and of bathymetric
the record-
and signal
ing of strengthand
bathymetric data. Thestrength
signal area of data.
investigation
The areacovers × 60 about
about 100covers
of investigation m covered100 ×
with
60 mfifteen
covered passages
with fifteenparallel to theparallel
passages coast, i.e., onecoast,
to the everyi.e.,
4 m,onehowever,
every 4 unfortunately
m, however, un- it
gave a negative result: none of the targets detected by the remote
fortunately it gave a negative result: none of the targets detected by the remote instru- instruments were of
archaeological
ments were of interest (Figure interest
archaeological 6). (Figure 6).
Figure 6.
Figure 6. The
The multibeam
multibeamsurvey
surveywith
withthe
theevident
evidentshipwreck
shipwreckofof
Lazise and
Lazise thethe
and area calculated
area ac-
calculated
cording to the sources for the second shipwreck (created by Massimo Capulli; background
according to the sources for the second shipwreck (created by Massimo Capulli; background Im- Image
© Google).
age ©Google).
However,atatthe
However, thesame
sametime
timeasasthe
thehistorical–archival
historical–archival research,
research, monitoring
monitoring andand eval-
evalua-
uation
tion of state
of the the state ofalready
of the the already excavated
excavated shipwreck
shipwreck were conducted.
were conducted. This wasThis was
also also
thanks
to the collaboration
thanks of the Carabinieri
to the collaboration (an Italian
of the Carabinieri (anpolice)
Italiandivers,
police)assisted
divers, by their Unit
assisted for
by their
the Protection of Cultural Heritage. On this occasion it was unfortunately observed
Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. On this occasion it was unfortunately ob- that the
hull framework,
served for the
that the hull part emerging
framework, for thefrom
partthe sediment,
emerging fromwas massively
the sediment,colonized by an
was massively
almost uniform
colonized by anlayer of malacofauna
almost (Figure
uniform layer This is Dreissena
of7).malacofauna polymorpha,
(Figure 7). Thisa well-known
is Dreissenapolymorpha, a well-known type of extremely invasive bivalve mollusk [31], which has been
present in Lake Garda since the mid-1970s [32,33], but just in shallow water.
At the depth of 24–27 m at which the wreck is found, biological activity in Lake Garda
is normally very limited, but during our dives we were able to ascertain that the whole
Heritage 2023, 6 1601
wreck is full of this particular type of mollusk. We thus had to record that while in the
past they were only found at shallow depths, because they need a temperature of at least
11 °C for reproduction [34], now instead it is possible to find these mollusks even at
type of extremely
greater depths [35]invasive
and thisbivalve mollusk
is due to [31], which
the increase in the has beenGarda
average present in Lake
lake Garda
temperature
since the mid-1970s [32,33], but just in shallow water.
of 1.6 degrees Celsius probably due to climate change [36].
Figure7.
Figure 7. The
The shipwreck
shipwreckof ofLazise
Lazisein
in 2019:
2019: in
in the
the foreground
foreground the
the molluscs
molluscsthat
thattotally
totallycover
coverthe
themast
mast
step (Massimo Capulli).
step (Massimo Capulli).
While
At the removing
depth of 24–27 the mollusks
m at which in somethe parts
wreckofisthe hull, an
found, extremely
biological worrying
activity fact
in Lake
was then
Garda observed,very
is normally namely the deterioration
limited, but during our of dives
the wood,
we werewhich
ablehasto become
ascertainthinner
that theat
many points (even 5 cm were missing from the keelson), as well
whole wreck is full of this particular type of mollusk. We thus had to record that while in as a fracture that misa-
ligned
the pastit.they
However,
were only it must
foundbe atassessed
shallowwith certainty
depths, becausewhether this damage
they need was caused
a temperature of at
least 11 ◦ C forpolymorpha
by Dreissena reproduction and/or
[34],by
now aninstead
increase in possible
it is the average lake
to find temperature
these mollusks [37].
even In-
at
deed, based
greater depths on[35]
theandscientific
this is literature,
due to the these
increasemussels
in theare filter Garda
average feederslakeandtemperature
remove much of
of the
1.6 plankton
degrees Celsius on probably
which juvenile
due to fish depend
climate change and[36].
can cause several changes in aquatic
While
habitats removing
[38]. From the the mollusksofinthe
protection some parts of the
underwater hull, an
cultural extremely
heritage pointworrying fact
of view, they
was then observed, namely the deterioration of the wood, which
attach themselves to hard surfaces such as poles of prehistoric villages [39] or shipwrecks; has become thinner
at many points
however, in the (even 5 cmwhile
latter case, were itmissing from the
seems certain thatkeelson),
they damageas wellmetalas aships,
fracture
therethat
are
misaligned
no studies yet it. on
However,
the impact it must
on woodbe assessed
[40]. It is with
certain certainty
that theywhether
can weaken this wooden
damage hulls
was
caused by Dreissena
by destroying all thepolymorpha and/or
joints nailing by an
them increasewhile
together, in thefor
average lake temperature
the wooden parts alone[37].
the
Indeed,
question based
seems ontotheremain
scientific literature,
open. In any these mussels
case, for are filter shipwreck
the Venetian feeders andofremove much
Lake Garda,
of
thethecompetent
plankton on which juvenile has
Superintendency fish launched
depend and can cause several
a reclamation changes inprogram
and protection aquatic
habitats [38]. From the protection of the underwater cultural heritage
which will be implemented as soon as possible, while the University of Udine is planning point of view, they
attach themselves to hard surfaces such as poles of prehistoric villages
a collaboration with other research institutions to clarify the cause of this degradation of [39] or shipwrecks;
however,
the woodin theinlatter
also freshcase, while
waters it seems
(Figure 8). certain that they damage metal ships, there are
no studies yet on the impact on wood [40]. It is certain that they can weaken wooden hulls
by destroying all the joints nailing them together, while for the wooden parts alone the
question seems to remain open. In any case, for the Venetian shipwreck of Lake Garda, the
competent Superintendency has launched a reclamation and protection program which
will be implemented as soon as possible, while the University of Udine is planning a
collaboration with other research institutions to clarify the cause of this degradation of the
wood also in fresh waters (Figure 8).Heritage 2023, 6 1602
Heritage 2023, 6, FOR PEER REVIEW 9
Figure 8.
Figure 8. Molluscs
Molluscssampling in 2021
sampling (Massimo
in 2021 Capulli).
(Massimo Capulli).
5. Conclusions
5. Conclusions
The Benacus project has the ambition to develop over the years a broad research pro-
gramThe Benacus
for the mapping project
of the has the ambition
submerged cultural to develop
heritage over
of Lake the years
Garda. a broad
The area identi-research
program
fied for an initial experimentation was that of the south-eastern part of the lake, whichThe area
for the mapping of the submerged cultural heritage of Lake Garda.
identified
was the scenefor an initial
of the experimentation
sinking was that
of a small Venetian fleetofinthe south-eastern
1509. partaimed
This step is also of thetolake,
a which
better
was thehistorical-archaeological
scene of the sinking of reconstruction of the fleet
a small Venetian eventsinconnected
1509. This to step
the fleet of the
is also aimed to a
Serenissima
better in the period between reconstruction
historical-archaeological the Veneto-Viscontiof thewarevents
and thatconnected
of Cambrai. to the fleet of the
Serenissima in the period between the Veneto-Visconti war andLazise
The knowledge of the position of one of the two shipwrecks of that ofshould
Cambrai.have
been The
the starting
knowledge of the position of one of the two shipwrecks of Lazise shouldthe
point for the calibration of the instruments (SSS, ERT and GPR) and have been
research of the second one, which thanks to the new and in-depth historical-archival re-
the starting point for the calibration of the instruments (SSS, ERT and GPR) and the research
search has been roughly positioned. The outcome of this survey was nonetheless negative.
of the second one, which thanks to the new and in-depth historical-archival research has
been roughly positioned. The outcome of this survey was nonetheless negative. Among
the possible causes, the main ones may be an error in the sources or in their interpretation,
or a total and thick natural covering of the second shipwreck. For example, in Lake Garda,
sedimentation rates in the 1963–1989 time-interval were estimated to be in the order ofHeritage 2023, 6 1603
2 cm/y. According to the authors, this rate can only be considered representative of the
past century before present [41], but this means that from the discovery of the Lazise
shipwreck to today (1958–2022), we could have over 120 cm of additional sediment for the
second wreck.
The Benacus project has anyhow brought back the attention on this important Venetian
ship, after 16 years from the last dives. This was an opportunity to discover, hopefully
in time, that the hull is deteriorating, and that action must be taken to protect one of the
only two Venetian warships that have come down to us [42]. Climate change thus seems
to be putting us in front of new challenges in order to protect the underwater cultural
heritage [43] and perhaps to take away some old certainty, such as the one that the fresh
waters of a lake do not cause major conservation problems.
Funding: This research was supported by the PRID funds of the Department of Humanities and
Cultural Heritage—University of Udine (Italy).
Acknowledgments: The author would like to thank Giovanna Falezza and Alessandro Asta of
the Italian Ministry of Culture, Michele Pipan of the University of Trieste, Andrea Zannini of the
University of Udine, Mauro Bondioli of Institute for Maritime Heritage Ars Nautica; Paolo Amighetti
of the Catholic University of Milan and Esplora srl for the work done so far. Last but not least, Staci
Willis of the Houston Community College, for checking the English.
Conflicts of Interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.
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