Submerged Neolithic Sites in the Adriatic Sea: Potential for the Preservation of Wooden Boat Structures
In recent years, research on submerged Neolithic sites along the eastern Adriatic coast has intensified. Due to the rise in sea level during the Holocene, as well as the subsequent burial of these sites by marine sediments, some archaeological contexts provide highly favorable conditions for the preservation of organic materials, including wood. Since these sites most likely belonged to Neolithic coastal communities, it is reasonable to assume that remains of boats, boat structures, or other maritime equipment may originally have been present in their vicinity. The sandy and muddy sediments surrounding submerged settlements are of particular interest, as rapid sedimentation may have resulted in the burial and long-term preservation of wooden structures. These conditions offer the possibility of identifying previously undocumented evidence of Neolithic seafaring and maritime technology. However, investigating large underwater areas using conventional archaeological methods is both time-consuming and logistically demanding. The aim of this paper is therefore to examine the potential of non-destructive geophysical methods for detecting potentially preserved wooden boat structures and maritime equipment at submerged Neolithic sites. Particular attention will be given to the possibilities and limitations of individual methods in relation to sediment type, burial depth, degree of wood preservation, and geomorphological conditions. The application of an appropriate combination of geophysical survey methods could facilitate the systematic identification of potential archaeological structures and help target future underwater archaeological investigations.