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The Phoenicians and the Ocean: trade and worship at La Caleta, Cadiz, Spain

2018; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 47; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/1095-9270.12275

1095-9270

Aurora Higueras‐Milena Castellano, Antonio M. Sáez Romero,

Law, logistics, and international trade

International Journal of Nautical ArchaeologyVolume 47, Issue 1 p. 81-102 ArticleFree Access The Phoenicians and the Ocean: trade and worship at La Caleta, Cadiz, Spain Aurora Higueras-Milena Castellano, Aurora Higueras-Milena Castellano aurora.h.castellano@juntadeandalucia.es Centro de Arqueología Subacuática IAPH, Balneario de la Palma. Duque de Nájera 3, 11004 Cadiz, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorAntonio M. Sáez Romero, Antonio M. Sáez Romero asaez1@us.es Universidad de Sevilla, Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología, Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Calle de Doña María de Padilla s/n, 41004 Seville, SpainSearch for more papers by this author Aurora Higueras-Milena Castellano, Aurora Higueras-Milena Castellano aurora.h.castellano@juntadeandalucia.es Centro de Arqueología Subacuática IAPH, Balneario de la Palma. Duque de Nájera 3, 11004 Cadiz, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorAntonio M. Sáez Romero, Antonio M. Sáez Romero asaez1@us.es Universidad de Sevilla, Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología, Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Calle de Doña María de Padilla s/n, 41004 Seville, SpainSearch for more papers by this author First published: 07 November 2017 https://doi.org/10.1111/1095-9270.12275Citations: 1AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstracten The area of La Caleta, north-west of Cadiz, is a key location for studies of the relationship between the Phoenician city of Gadir and the ocean. The port channel and the small islets that characterize the area was one the busiest sectors of the city, and there are abundant underwater remains attesting to past commercial activities. The area also had an important religious role: two sanctuaries were located at the western end of the rocky promontories that surround the channel, and many items identified as offerings have been found. This article synthesizes previous research and provides an overview of the results of a recent project (2008–2010), which enables a thorough review of the development of the seascape and its use during the 1st millennium BC. 抽象zh 腓尼基人与海洋:西班牙卡的斯卡莱塔的贸易与崇拜 位于卡的斯西北部的卡莱塔地区是研究腓尼基城市卡迪尔与海洋之间关系的重要节点。港口航道和诸小岛都展现了该地区是这座城市最繁忙的地段之一, 这里丰富的水下遗迹都证明了过往的商业活动。这一区域还担负着重要的宗教角色:在围绕航道的岩石岬角的西端有两座圣殿, 这里已经发现了许多被证明为祭品的物品。本文综合以往研究并概述最新的一项研究 (2008-2010) 成果, 该项研究可全面检讨公元前一千年海洋景观的发展及其利用. 腓尼基人與海洋:西班牙卡的斯卡萊塔的貿易與崇拜 位于卡的斯西北部的卡萊塔地區是研究腓尼基城市卡迪爾與海洋之間關系的重要節點。港口航道和諸小島都展現了該地區是這座城市最繁忙的地段之一, 這裏豐富的水下遺迹都證明了過往的商業活動。這一區域還擔負著重要的宗教角色:在圍繞航道的岩石岬角的西端有兩座聖殿, 這裏已經發現了許多被證明爲祭品的物品。本文綜合以往研究並概述最新的一項研究 (2008-2010) 成果, 該項研究可全面檢討公元前一千年海洋景觀的發展及其利用. Abstractoes El área de La Caleta, al noroeste de la actual Cádiz, es un punto clave para el análisis de la íntima relación establecida entre la ciudad fenicia de Gadir y el océano. El canal portuario y las pequeñas islas que caracterizaron este entorno debieron ser uno de los sectores más bulliciosos de la ciudad, existiendo numerosas evidencias de origen subacuático sobre el desarrollo de actividades comerciales. Además, la zona tuvo un papel religioso importante: dos santuarios se ubicaron en los extremos de los promontorios rocosos que rodeaban el canal portuario, y un gran número de ítems (identificados como ofrendas) han sido recuperados en la zona. Este trabajo sintetiza las investigaciones previas y ofrece una panorámica de los resultados de un proyecto reciente (2008–2010) que ha proporcionado nuevas evidencias significativas que permiten revisar la evolución del paisaje y de los usos desarrollados en la zona durante el I milenio a.C. Palabras clave : Fenicios, Arqueología marítima, Geoarqueología, Ánforas, Comercio en la Antigüedad, Religión púnica. According to certain literary and historiographic traditions, the Phoenician foundation of Gadir occurred during the early stage of Phoenician expansion in the Western Mediterranean. From the start the city appears to have been one of the main places of settlement for Eastern colonists who were endeavouring to open new routes towards the Atlantic Ocean. Archaeological research carried out in the Bay of Cadiz over the past few decades has confirmed the important role played by the Phoenician presence on the islands of Cadiz—from Cadiz itself to the area of Sancti Petri—and at the mouths of the main rivers. Also, both archaeological and Classical literary sources indicate that the city was from its earlier stages intimately connected with the sea, through activities such as fishing, salt extraction, and maritime commerce. This relationship became stronger over time until it reached its peak with the Balbo family during the Roman-Republican and the Early Imperial periods (Botto, 2014; Sáez Romero, 2014; Niveau, 2015). The evidence available for Phoenician settlement in the bay and for its maritime projection is still incomplete, although it seems clear that the northern area of the island of Cadiz was occupied by a small settlement, and that its southern end was chosen for the construction of a sanctuary devoted to Melqart. Probably, the Phoenicians also contributed and populated fortified settlements in Castillo de Doña Blanca (Ruiz and Pérez, 1995) and Cerro del Castillo (Bueno, 2014), at the mouths of the rivers, and rapidly extended their economic and commercial activities upriver into the main valleys (Fig. 1a). The Orientalization of the material culture and the settlement patterns in the bay is obvious by the 7th century BC (Niveau, 2015). At the same time, maritime activity geared towards the Atlantic and other Western Phoenician settlements intensified. It seems that in the 7th and 6th centuries BC, Gadir was consolidated as a political and economic centre, gained control over the hinterland, and grew in international prestige, wealth and influence as a result of a strategy of increased maritime commerce. The bay thus entered a period of expansion, the archaeology of which remains only partially known (Botto, 2014). Figure 1Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Synthesis of settlement patterns and geoarchaeological changes in the Bay of Cadiz during a) the Archaic period (8th–6th centuries BC); and b) the Punic period (early 5th to late 3rd centuries BC) (drawing: A. Sáez Romero). During the Punic period, between the late 6th and the early 3rd centuries BC, the bay underwent substantial demographic and economic growth. In the 5th century BC the city's salted fish became internationally known; the archaeological and written sources indicate that it was in high demand in Greece (Zimmerman-Munn, 2003). In contrast with the renown of these preserves, the information available concerning harbour facilities, shipyards and fleets is scarce (Fig. 1b). In any case, these must have been substantial, as the whole city was sea-oriented—even the sanctuaries—and commerce was its key activity throughout the 1st millennium BC. The town was annexed by Rome in the aftermath of the First Punic War (206 BC), and this marked the beginning of a period of renewed economic growth and increased exports to the Mediterranean markets. The beach of La Caleta and the associated maritime environment are key to the analysis of the historical development of settlement on the island (Fig. 2). In recent decades, this coastal sector has been actively investigated by geoarchaeologists, and it also plays an essential role in the analysis of the maritime and religious activity on the island during both the Phoenician-Punic (Gadir) and the Roman periods (Gades). The area is located in the north-western sector of the islands. Some ancient sources refer to this group of islands as the archipelago of Gàdeira. The key feature of the area is a stretch of sea framed by the reefs of Santa Catalina-Punta del Nao (island of Erytheia) and San Sebastián (island of Kotinoussa). According to Strabo (3.5.3), the original Phoenician oppidum was built on the small northernmost island, and later sources suggest that a sacred area dedicated to Astarte/Venus (at the site of the Castle of Santa Catalina) was also built there. In Kotinoussa, in the area known as 'the Vendaval front', which stretches as far as the Castle of San Sebastián, on the opposite shore of the channel Bahía-Caleta, a sacred area dedicated to Kronos or Baal Hammon (Maya et al., 2014) was also built. This area would have been also characterized by constant sea traffic, the presence of anchorage areas and some port facilities such as berths or warehouses. Figure 2Open in figure viewerPowerPoint a) Aerial view of Cadiz, which shows the location of La Caleta at low tide (Astillero and Garófano, 2003: 57, fig. 28); b) San Sebastián Castle and the southern part of La Caleta beach (photo provided by Isabel Dugo, IAPH); c) view of the central channel of La Caleta from the current sand bar of the beach (photo by A. Higueras-Milena); d) view of the rocky surface next to the Santa Catalina Castle, the northern side of La Caleta Channel, taken from the CAS building (photo by A. Higueras-Milena). A recent quantitative and qualitative increase in information available for the Phoenician-Punic settlement and the palaeo-topography of this corner of the archipelago of Cadiz has inspired renewed debate and new hypotheses and interpretations (Fig. 3). The main goal of this article is to add new elements to this debate by discussing the results of the archaeological surveys carried out between 2008 and 2010. These surveys involved the application of updated techniques for scanning and interpreting the seabed, as well as the detailed and systematic recording of newly discovered Phoenician and Punic material (8th–3rd centuries BC). This evidence will be used to reconsider previous paradigms and to present alternative hypotheses about the role played by the area under study in antiquity. First, a brief review of previous research will be outlined, followed by an examination of the relationship between underwater remains and religious activity, the typology-chronology of the new material, the role of La Caleta as a harbour, the possible presence of shipwrecks, and, finally, proposals for future research. Figure 3Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Plan of the northern area of Cadiz Island and its maritime extension, indicating (in brown) the shape of the Erytheia and Kotinoussa Islands in Phoenician and Punic times. Underwater sites: a) 'Juan Villa's shipwreck'; b) Punta del Nao; c) Canal del Sur 1; d) Canal del Sur 5; e) La Cepera; f) Bajo de Chapitel; and g) Laja Herrera. Phoenician and Punic sites on the main islands: 1) Castle of San Sebastián; 2) Castle of Santa Catalina; 3) Gregorio Marañón; 4) Hospital Real; 5) Calle Hércules; 6) Teatro Cómico; 7) Teatro Andalucía; 8) Cánovas del Castillo; 9) Calle Ancha; 10) Casa del Obispo; 11) Concepción Arenal esquina a Botica; and 12) Santa María del Mar beach (drawing by the authors). Previous research Diving to recover archaeological material started early in this area. The first accounts of the discovery of inscribed stones and pottery near the modern fortifications date to the 17th century. Amphoras recovered throughout the 19th century were incorporated into the provincial archaeological museum in the 20th century (Romero de Torres, 1908–1909, published in 1934). Despite the strong currents and tides and low visibility on the seabed, with the beginning of modern diving La Caleta and the adjacent rocky seabed became key sites for underwater archaeology in the region, and the epicentre of underwater research on the Phoenician-Punic past of the bay. Unfortunately, the early decades of exploration of this land-sea environment were characterized by multiple 'chance finds' and the illegal and systematic plunder of large numbers of artefacts, especially pottery vessels. Some of these decontextualized pieces have ended up in the provincial museum, while the rest were sold to private collectors, and are now lost for scientific purposes. The earliest systematic research projects were initiated in the 1970s under the direction of Olga Vallespín, who explored several areas in 1973–1978 and 1983–1984 (Vallespín, 1985). In the early 1980s (1981–1983) projects directed by Juan Ramón Ramírez Delgado also involved surveys of the seabed to the north-west of Cadiz. These contributed interesting evidence on and new approaches to the palaeogeographical evolution of this area, as well as providing new information on its function as a harbour and also as sacred ground in antiquity (Ramírez and Mateos, 1985). These pioneering campaigns were followed by further systematic campaigns, for example those launched by the Museum of Cadiz (by R. Corzo, C. García Rivera and M. D. López de la Orden), while other seasons were frustrated by administrative problems (Ramírez and collaborators; O. Vallespín; Alonso, 1991). In any case, with the exception of a few actions that were part of a general, bay-wide, research project (Gallardo et al., 1994, 1995), later works in the area were intermittent. These later works were coordinated by the Underwater Archaeology Centre (CAS), dependent on the regional government, and were focused on cataloguing and conservation (Alzaga et al., 1999: 122–129; Alonso et al., 1999: 130–137; Rodríguez and Martí, 2001; Martí and Rodríguez, 2003: 399–416; Martí, 2010). Research carried out in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in the fossilization of the image of the channel as a harbour space linked to religious activities on the shore (Vallespín, 1985, 2000; Ramírez and Mateos, 1985). This was encouraged by the analysis of both chance finds and artefacts recovered over the course of the systematic campaigns, held in the provincial museum and private collections. These studies chiefly focused on the categorization of ceramic material that has traditionally been interpreted as votive (cult) items, such as incense burners and miniature amphoras (García y Bellido, 1971; Pérez Hormaeche, 1990, 1993; Muñoz, 1993), but some progress was also made in the analysis of transport amphoras (Alonso et al., 1991). Work carried out in the area over the past two decades has confirmed the abundance of Phoenician and later material in the channel of La Caleta and other sectors to the north-west of Cadiz (Gallardo et al., 1999: 21–23; Rodríguez and Martí, 2001). A survey undertaken in 2006 in Bajos de Chapitel provided additional information for the study of the Phoenician-Punic period, including different types of amphoras and several dipper juglets (Martí, 2010: 636–638, figs 3–4). Between 2008 and 2010, renewed impetus for the scientific investigation of the area resulted in several surveys under the direction of the CAS (Martí, 2014; Higueras-Milena, forthcoming). Finally, a project promoted by the CAS, dependent on the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH) and the University of Cadiz, entitled HAR2016-79387P 'El contexto arqueológico subacuático de La Caleta y su entorno (Cádiz): Puertos y pecios vertebradores de una ciudad y de un territorio' (2016–2018) is currently underway. In conclusion, a reinvigorated scientific setting, and newly collected geoarchaeological evidence now make it possible to open innovative debates and to test old theories on the Phoenician-Punic settlement of the islands of Cadiz. Significant Phoenician and Punic finds A very remarkable set of archaeological finds of Phoenician-Punic date has been collected from La Caleta and its immediate surroundings since the early 20th century. These artefacts have either been found by chance or as a result of scientific work, and are of diverse typologies, with very different interpretive implications (Fig. 4). In this regard, special mention must be made of the immediate environment of La Caleta and, especially, the Punta del Nao and the Aculadero, where a large number of ceramic items have been recorded and interpreted as religious offerings. The southern flank of the channel of La Caleta has been less prolific in purely quantitative terms, but the finds discovered in it include pieces of particular interest, such as the 'Proto-Ionic' capital found near San Sebastián (Pemán, 1959: 58–70; Blanco Freijeiro, 1960: 151–159). This item, no parallel for which has been found to date in relation to Western Phoenician settlements, has been related to religious uses of uncertain date, perhaps as part of the architectural ornamentation of the Kronion mentioned by Strabo (Marín and Jiménez, 2011). Figure 4Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Plan of La Caleta showing the approximate location of the main types of finds discovered during the 20th century: 1) proto-aeolian capital; 2) 'Canaanite' pyxis; 3) thymiaterion; 4–6) terracotta objects; 7) pottery disc; 8) incense burner; 9) miniature amphoras; and 10) T-11210 amphora from 'Juan Villa's shipwreck' (images and drawing by the authors). In addition to this piece, other important items have emphasized the use of this area and the island of Erytheia for religious purposes, from the Archaic Phoenician period onwards. The best known of these items is the so-called thymiaterion (Blanco, 1970). This item has been at the centre of multiple debates, and there are divergent interpretations as to its origin, function and chronology (Jiménez, 2007). As is often the case with objects illegally collected in La Caleta and sold to the museum in the 1960s and 1970s, the item is described in the museum catalogue (Card 8786, Museo Arqueológico Provincial of Cadiz, received on 28 March 1970) as a 'chance find' discovered near Punta del Nao at a depth of 20–25m. The thymiaterion was the first of a series of emblematic pieces that flagged La Caleta as important for the study of maritime and religious activity in Phoenician Cadiz. Other significant finds have occurred since, but none have been decisive in solving the unanswered historical questions on the religious and maritime function of the area, or in providing a more secure context for the numerous finds recorded by different means. In addition to the thymiaterion, we should mention the discovery of various singular terracotta objects such as Egyptian- and Nubian-style heads, statuettes representing suppliants or warriors, dog heads, female figures and two discs with schematic vegetal decoration. These artefacts have been connected to the operation of the sanctuary located in the western sector of Erytheia and also to the Kronion located in San Sebastián (Blanco, 1970; Corzo, 1983; Muñoz, 1993; Álvarez, 1992, 1997; Ramírez and Mateos, 1992, 1994; Belén, 2000; Ferrer Albelda, 2002; Jiménez, 2007; Frutos and Muñoz, 2008; Aubet, 2009; Gener et al., 2014). Fortunately, some of them can be dated by moulds found in kiln sites in the southern part of Cadiz Island, in present-day San Fernando, that suggest that the Nubian-style head and some of the figurines were produced during the 5th century BC (Ramon et al., 2007). One of the most characteristic and common items are the miniature amphoras, which are generally interpreted as dating to the Classical period. A huge number of these were raised as chance finds both before and after scientific exploration in the area commenced—and therefore, without recorded archaeological contexts. Their presence throughout the whole area of La Caleta has been attributed to a gradual deposition pattern between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. They have been interpreted as offerings presented in order to propitiate a good voyage; probably tossed straight into the sea as part of a ritual that also involved the deposition of offerings in the sanctuaries located around La Caleta (García y Bellido, 1971; Corzo, 1983; López and García, 1985; Alonso et al., 1991; Muñoz, 1993; Vallespín, 2000). Other authors, however, have proposed that they would have been part of the cargo of ritual ships wrecked in the area (Ramírez and Mateos, 1985). Other common ceramics that would have been used as offerings are incense burners (Pérez Hormaeche, 1990; Muñoz, 1993) and small dipper juglets (Pérez Hormaeche, 1993; Muñoz, 1993), but it is worth noting that both types can be found in the grave goods of local tombs of the Archaic period (Sáez and Belizón, 2014). Also abundant are transport amphoras of Phoenician and Punic date. These have been attested at different points of this coastal sector, but have received less attention than the items classified as offerings; as a result, the typological and especially the published contextual information is very insufficient. Finds dated to the Archaic period are (to date) few, but some of the surveys carried out in the early 1980s did lead to the discovery of several T-10121 vessels (Alonso et al., 1991). The presence of T-11210, T-12111, T-8211 and T-9111 amphoras, alongside other Iberian, Turdetanian, Greek or Carthaginian types is better documented, and may reflect an increase in commercial traffic and religious or funerary activities between the 5th and 2nd centuries BC (Alonso et al., 1991; Muñoz, 1993). In relation to this important collection of archaeological items, it is important to highlight the almost total absence of shipwreck remains of pre-Roman date in the area. This stands in contrast to the abundance of Punic items found in secondary contexts. There are vague and, up to now, unconfirmed references to a possible 4th- or 5th-century BC shipwreck near La Albujera, located at the entrance of the channel, referred to as 'Juan Villa's Punic Shipwreck', in honour of its discoverer. Local divers are well aware of this sector and refer to it as 'La Escombrera' or 'the pottery dump'. It seems that the area is covered in Punic amphoras (T-11213 or T-12110) that appear to be in a good state of preservation (Figs 4 and 5). Figure 5Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Results of the bathymetric research conducted in 2008–2010 north and west of La Caleta. Inset: detail of the possible location and remains of the 'Juan Villa's shipwreck' (after Higueras-Milena and Sáez, 2014: 997, fig. 4). Results of the 2008–2010 seasons The material presented here was found in the context of the project 'Experimental implementation of geophysical techniques for the identification, investigation and distribution of archaeological evidence in the area of La Caleta (Cadiz)', (Punctual Archaeological Activity, Ref. IDPH. 05/PU/CA/08, authorized on 12 May 2008 and finished on 31 July 2010). The project was promoted by the CAS-IAPH within the framework of a wider project: 'Underwater Archaeology Map of Andalusia', and was directed by one of the authors, A. Higueras-Milena Castellano. The centre's staff carried out all the fieldwork and later study of the material with the support of a few external collaborators. The project's main targets were to carry out geophysical survey in order to increase our knowledge of the geomorphology of the seabed of La Caleta, and to try to contextualize the available evidence on maritime traffic from antiquity until more recent periods. The area included in the project is within an archaeologically protected area known as the 'Subaquatic area of the Bay of Cadiz'. This area is divided into six archaeological sectors (AS): El Aculadero, Punta del Nao, Piedras de Molino, Bajo de Chapitel, Cepo de Plomo and Punta del Sur. These sectors host Phoenician-Punic, Roman, Medieval and Modern sites, and a wide variety of finds. Previous publications have provided a partial overview of the project's methodology and outcome (Higueras-Milena and Sáez, 2014; Higueras-Milena, forthcoming), and a basic picture of geophysical results, the characteristics of the sites recorded, and the historical-archaeological implications resulting from the analysis of the materials associated with each AS. Other publications resulting from the project deal with the Phoenician (Sáez and Higueras-Milena, 2016a), Punic (Sáez and Higueras-Milena, 2016b) and Roman-Republican (Higueras-Milena and Sáez, forthcoming) periods, as well as the Imperial Roman amphoras of the Eastern Mediterranean provenance (González et al., 2016). Another presents a collection of amphoras that includes material found in La Caleta, dated to between the Punic and the Imperial Roman periods, currently deposited in the Municipal Historical Museum of San Fernando (Sáez et al., 2016). Other publications that deal with significant finds and donations are also in preparation (for example incense burners, Sáez and Higueras-Milena, 2016c). Geophysical survey and fieldwork The project has analysed the results of applying different geophysical techniques in an area where there are very different depths and types of seabed (sands, gravel, silt and rock), as well as types of archaeological finds (ceramic, metal and stone objects). Geophysical techniques (sidescan sonar, marine magnetometer, multibeam echosounder, and seismic profiler) were used in combination with visual survey. The information collected is rich and wide-ranging, and relates to sites dating to all periods, from antiquity to modern times. Divers also explored the anomalies detected during the geophysical survey, and investigated in more detail those areas for which the geophysical results were unclear owing to the characteristics of the seabed or adverse weather conditions (Fig. 6). The visual survey followed different formats: for example linear survey, concentric circles, and transects. This took place between 2008 and 2010, especially from May to September, when sea conditions are at their most favourable. The assistance of the CAS of Andalusia was crucial during this stage. Figure 6Open in figure viewerPowerPoint a) Excavation of a 1 × 1m area; and b) drawing the distribution of finds (photos by A. Higueras-Milena). During this fieldwork, the importance of focusing specifically on certain areas was noted, and archaeological test trenches were undertaken in the areas of La Cepera, Punta del Nao and two in the Canal del Sur sector. The main purpose of these test pits was to define the limits of some significant groups of material and also to establish more precisely the chronological and typological characterization of the sites, and to propose the most adequate protection measures. Excavation squares (1 × 1m) were georeferenced by GPS from the ship or by triangulation with set benchmarks. Excavation either followed stratigraphic criteria or was guided by spits, depending on visibility and seabed mobility conditions, with stratigraphic criteria followed whenever possible. The soil was extracted by means of a dredge and, once sieved in search of archaeological remains, reused to backfill the excavation trench. Despite the promising prospect presented by the concentrations of material, it was impossible a priori to be sure whether the finds were in situ, either shipwreck remains or an area of intentional deposit, or the result of postdepositional processes, such as currents. Excavation did not produce any evidence for ancient shipwrecks; nor did it clarify the nature of these concentrations of material, which were sometimes composed of items from very different periods and represented a wide typological range. Other materials here from Laja Herrera and Bajo de Chapitel were found during the survey, and they do not appear to be related to one another or indeed to other finds. Sites and finds The quantity and typological variety of the Phoenician material found in 2008–2010 was very uneven across the five main operation areas (see below). This cannot be attributed only to the 'natural' distribution of items caused by positional and postdepositional processes, but also to the greater incidence of looting in the interior channel of La Caleta and the nearby Punta del Nao. In any case, the sample is quantitatively small, but it is still significant in terms of chronology and typology, as it complements previous evidence provided by chance finds, underwater interventions or archaeological excavation at the shore (Fig. 3). Canal del Sur Several anomalies detected by the sidescan sonar prompted a visual survey, which resulted in the identification of a broad scatter of Punic and Roman-Imperial ceramic items. Several areas were isolated in this sector in the period 2008–2010. The northern sector (Canal del Sur 1) provided abundant amphora sherds, especially of Punic date, as well as double candleholders (saucers), miniature amphoras and common and burnished wares dating to a number of different periods. The earliest periods in Canal del Sur 1 yielded some ceramic material other than amphoras, which is of interest when assessing the Phoenician presence (Fig. 7): specifically, we should note a pithos dated to the 7th or early 6th century BC. More recent remains of amphoras include several fragments of locally produced T-11213 in varying states of preservation (CSUR/CA09/04); this type has been dated throughout the 5th century BC. A fragment partially featuring the rim, wall and handle of a locally made amphora that appears to be inspired by the profile of the T-1323 type, from Ibiza, can be dated to the late 5th century, but it is impossible to ascertain whether it was contemporaneous with the T-11213 type. Similarly, this location also yielded non-amphora ceramic remains dated to the early Punic period, for instance two large vases that are reminiscent of Archaic pithoi (Camposoto types XIa2-3 or XIb3-4; Ramon et al., 2007: 64–95). Figure 7Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Pottery from Canal del Sur 1: T-11213 (CSUR/CA09/04); Turdetanian Pellicer D amphora (CSUR/CA10/90); incense-burners (CSUR/CA10/78 and 79); miniature amphora (