Plunge into submerged landscapes dating back 2,500 years at Fernbank Museum’s Sunken Treasures, Ancient Seas exhibit, now through Jan 11, 2026. See objects of war, trade and culture recovered from ancient shipwrecks near the island of Sicily (just off Italy’s boot) and ponder a coastal city now located under the Gulf of Naples.
These displayed maritime archeological discoveries – like amphorae (tall jars with two handles), coins, anchors and statues – further our understanding of life during the Roman empire.
“We’re used to archeology on land,” said Dr. Bobbi Hohmann, Fernbank’s vice president of programming & collections. “This is another way we find out information about the past – going underwater, finding objects, analyzing them and restoring them.” Thanks to a long partnership with Contemporanea Progetti, Fernbank is the first venue for the traveling exhibit that also arrived by ship, even diverting a hurricane.
“The exhibit starts with scuba gear from the 1950s to 1970s,” Hohmann said. “To provide context as we get immersed – no pun intended – into maritime archeology.”
For a fun photo op, climb aboard a yellow submersible, like the ones used to explore the deep sea. “Where are you taking me?” a Grandma asks her granddaughter. “Not sure, I don’t know the sea.”
She’s in luck though, as large-scale video installations seemingly place visitors alongside maritime archeologists under the Mediterranean sea as they discover and restore shipwreck relics.
“The rostrum or battling ram is the most impressive,” Hohmann explains. “It’s a piece of equipment that allowed Rome to defeat Carthage at the Battle of Aegadian Islands 241 BCE.” The Romans used the battering ram to hit another ship, detach it and retreat, sending it and the enemy ship to the sea floor.
On display is one of the 27 battering rams recovered from that famous battle. “You can see half of the ram is untouched and half is restored,” Hohmann explained, while also watching the naval battle re-enactment.
“The Romans were methodical engineers, especially when it came to warfare,” said a Fernbank member. “This is the reason we come, to see new exhibits, like this one.”
Also, on Hohmann’s must see list, the map of Sicily with yellow stars denoting shipwrecks and bubbles indicating where exhibit objects were found, including: amphorae (large storage jars), coins, ingots, soldier helmets, and more.
“From this strategic location – a crossroads of conflict, culture and commerce – there are ~1,200 shipwrecks around Sicily that have been found, likely others that haven’t,” Hohmann said.“ There is so much more to learn.”
Romans transported grain, wine, oil, construction material and more across its empire from 1st to 4th BCE. Be sure to stop and ponder the ingots, standardized forms of copper and bronze transported for use at their destination.
“I like knowing how something gets from point A to B,” Hohmann explained. “Today, we can have something delivered in 24 hours, in 3,000 BCE, everything was coming by ship. The shipwrecks were there for a reason; sunk in battle or capsized in a storm.” And what were they carrying and why?
Hohmann is also intrigued by the 2,000 year old bronze elephant’s foot, likely from a massive statue.
“I like picking out the unexpected…that can have the most interesting stories,” she added.
For another wonder, spend time at a video installation that takes guests into the remains of Baia, an ancient Roman coastal city with luxurious villas and thermal baths, now below the Gulf of Naples.
“[Italian researchers] are not planning to take up the statues and mosaics,” Hohmann said. “They want to restore them in the water; something you can access via underwater tourism.” Back at Fernbank, the video shows the painstaking process of restoring mosaic floors subject to the sea.
This world of underwater discovery is already captivating a range of guests. “There’s 20 and 30-somethings, grandparents with grandkids, folks on vacation, and home school groups on any given day,” Hohmann said. “It really seems to be resonating with people.”
Visit exhibit with general admission ticket (free with CityPASS) or at WildWoods AGLOW, select nights starting November 14.
