Diving For Secrets Of The Roman Era

Not everyone has the time and money to spend on underwater archaeology—for most it must remain a spectator sport. Captain Ted Falcon-Barker, who is said to be an Australian and the most ex perienced and intrepid exponent of the comparatively recent science, caters for the latter in Roman Galley Beneath the Sea.

The book, consisting of more pictures than text, which can be read in short-order, describes an expedition to the Balearic Islands and the discovery and the exploration of a Roman galley of the period 50 AD. The galley had apparently been wrecked when carrying wine from Northern Spain almost 2,000 years ago.

Coins, amphorae (the characteristic wine containers of the period), lamps (like Aladdin’s), glass, and bronze jugs and bowls were among the objects recovered.

The story describes the modern diving equipment and techniques used in discovering and exploring the wreck.

But there is little enough about the small group of international divers who took part in the work —even about the gorgeous blonde in the bikini who appears in the photos and is described in the text merely as “Bel Barker, ship’s cook and diver, from Australia”. —IT. (ROMAN GALLEY BENEATH THE SEA. Brockhampton Press, distributed through Hodder. 25/-.)