Ancient shipwreck yields treasure trove for diver.
A rare ancient shipwrecked cargo, the first of its kind found in the Eastern Mediterranean, has been discovered off the coast of Israel. The cargo includes 1,800-year-old Corinthian capitals adorned with vegetal patterns, partially carved capitals, and pure marble columns up to 6 meters long. The valuable Roman architectural elements were apparently intended to adorn a public building such as a temple or theater. The discovery settles a debate about whether the Romans imported architectural elements from their lands of origin or transported them in a partially carved form for finishing at their destination.