Creator(s)
Eiseman, Cynthia Jones, 1944-
Owen, David L.
Date(s)
[inclusive] 1969-1988
Call Number
PU-Mu. 1055
Physical Description
Extent: 0.2 linear foot
Language(s)
eng

In July of 1970, in the straits of Messina about 100 meters from the village of Porticello, underwater excavation of a vessel subsequently determined to be 5th century B.C. Roman, commenced under the direction of David I. Owen, assistant curator of the Underwater Archaeology Section of the University of Pennsylvania Museum. The Porticello Shipwreck spans the period from 1969-1988 and primarily contains letters, field notes, object descriptions, drawings and photographs (prints, slides, and negatives) of objects and under water excavations relating to the project. The collection is divided into six series: Correspondence; Field Notes; Catalogues; Publications; Drawings; Photographs.

Funding and support for the excavation was supplied by the University of Pennsylvania Museum, The Geographical Society of Philadelphia, and Dr.and Mrs. Oliver C. Colburn. The Ford Foundation and a L’Aquila Exchange, University of Pennsylvania grant in 1982 provided funds for Eiseman’s trips to Italy.

The Porticello Shipwreck spans the period from 1969-88 and primarily contains letters, field notes, object descriptions, drawings and photographs (prints, slides, and negatives) of objects and under water excavations relating to the project. The collection is divided into six series: Correspondence; Field Notes; Catalogues; Publications; Drawings; Photographs.

Publication Information: University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives,

Finding Aid Author:

Use Restrictions: Although many items from the archives are in the public domain, copyright may be retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. The user is fully responsible for compliance with relevant copyright law.

Corporate Name(s)

  • University of Pennsylvania. Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Form(s)/Genre(s)

  • Card catalogs
  • Drawings (visual works)
  • Photographs

Geographic Name(s)

  • Italy

Personal Name(s)

  • Eiseman, Cynthia Jones, 1944-
  • Owen, David L.

Subject(s)

  • Antiquities
  • Material culture
  • Radiocarbon dating
  • Underwater archaeology

Collections Inventory

Correspondence (inclusive: 1969-1988)

Scope and Contents note

Consists of one folder of general correspondence pertaining primarily to the project. All other folders refer to specific topics, many of which are concerned with the artifacts.

General 1970-1987, Box 1
Italy Trip 1982, Box 1
Taggert fellowship Application 1975, Box 1
Eiseman PhD Dissertation 1978-1980, Box 1
Texas A and M Press (“Porticello Shipwreck”) 1982-1988, Box 1
Carbon 14 Analysis 1972, Box 1
Metal Sampling and Testing 1971-1980, Box 1
Anchor Collars, Gerhard Kapitan 1971-1972, Box 1
Lead Ingots, H. E. Soonike 1974-1975, Box 1
Lead Ingots, Joan D. Taylor 1976-1980, Box 1
Lead Ingots, General 1977-1980, Box 1
Amphora, Virginia Grace 1969-1976, Box 1
Amphora, General 1973-1981, Box 1
Sculpture; Caroline Hauser 1973-1975, Box 1
Sculpture, General 1970-1983, Box 1
Objects; Misc. 1979, Box 1

Field Notes (inclusive: 1970-1982)

Scope and Contents note

Survey of excavation site, and study of objects. Not included are detailed notes of the excavation. (See chapter 1 of the Eiseman and Ridgway monograph for an account of the excavation.)

Related Archival Materials note

[Folder title for material in oversize box at end. See: Box 3, folder 17]

Excavation 1970, Box 1
Object Research; Italy, Greece 1976, Box 1
Object Research; Italy 1982, Box 1

Catalogues (inclusive: 1970-1979)

Scope and Contents note

Description of objects completed in 1970, 1971 photo list of objects and descriptions of some specific artifacts.

Objects 1970, Box 1
Photo Lists 1971, Box 1
Catalogue Cards (1 of 2), Box 2
Catalogue Cards (2 of 2), Box 2
Lead Anchor Stocks, Box 2
Bone, Box 2
Amphora 1979, Box 2
Object Descriptions, Box 2

Publications (inclusive: 1970-1984)

Scope and Contents note

Primarily publications in sources that were deemed more difficult to access.

1970-71, Box 2
1973-1984; undated, Box 2

Drawings

Scope and Contents note

Renderings of artifacts by Jane Cook and Susan Katzev.

Anchor, Box 2
Objects, misc., Box 2
Objects, Site Plan [Oversize],

Photographs

Scope and Contents note

Numerous prints of objects taken at various points in time, plus two folders of the excavation site and the excavation. The majority of the photographs are attributed to Donald A. Frey Other photographers were David Owen, Robin Piercy and Susan Katzev. Sequencing of the folders, when possible, followed the ordering of the chapters in the Eiseman and Ridgway monograph.

Site Views, Box 2
Excavation, Box 2
Anchor Collars, Box 2
Anchor Flukes (Teeth), Box 2
Anchor Lead Stock fillings, Box 2
Lead Sheathing, Box 2
Nails, Box 2
Cups, Box 2
Lamps, Box 2
Lead Loaf Ingots, Box 2
Misc. Metal, Box 2
Mortar, Box 3
Pottery Sherds, Box 3
Pitchers, Box 3
Whetstones, Box 3
Wooden Objects, Bone, Box 3
Amphora (Large Prints), Box 3
Amphora (Small Prints), Box 3
Amphora (Drawings), Box 3
Sculpture: Head (Pre-restoration), Box 3
Sculpture: Head (Post-restoration), Box 3
Sculpture: Fragments (Large Prints), Box 3
Sculpture: Fragments: (Small Prints), Box 3
Sculpture: Fragments (Small Prints), Box 3
Contact Prints, Box 3
Contact Prints, Box 3