An underwater archaeologist claims artefacts he found in a bay near Rio de Janeiro may mark the wreck of a Roman ship that could have reached Brazil 17 centuries before the Portuguese

Robert Marx is an expert in sunken treasure

For years, the discovery of Roman artifacts in a bay near Rio de Janeiro perplexed explorers and historians alike.

In 1982, underwater archaeologist Robert Marx stumbled upon a collection of tall jars, known as amphoras, in Guanabara Bay, located 15 miles from the iconic city. These amphoras, utilized to transport wine, oil, water, or grain on lengthy sea voyages, appeared to challenge established historical narratives. Marx speculated that they might signify the wreckage of a Roman vessel that potentially reached Brazil seventeen centuries prior to Portuguese explorers.

Although Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral is traditionally credited with the European discovery of Brazil in 1500, Marx, renowned for his pursuit of sunken treasures, attempted to demonstrate earlier European presence in the region. However, his efforts to excavate the presumed Roman wreck were stymied by Portuguese authorities who refused to grant him a permit.

Marx, a prolific author on early exploration and underwater archaeology, hypothesized that the amphoras were transported to Brazil aboard a Roman ship that veered off course. It is conceivable that the vessel anchored near Rio before being swept onto a reef by a storm, where the amphoras now rest.

The amphoras were used to carry wine, oil, water or grain on long voyages

Initially skeptical of the discovery, Marx expressed suspicion of a hoax upon hearing about the amphoras. However, his skepticism quickly dissipated when he personally explored the site and beheld an expanse resembling three tennis courts, strewn with jars, most of them fractured. Convinced of the authenticity of the find, he retrieved several amphoras from the seabed to undergo authentication by specialists.

“There’s no possibility these amphoras were planted,” Marx asserted. “We found four intact amphoras and remnants of at least 50 more scattered across the surface.”

For years, Marx has been on a quest to substantiate the notion that Europeans reached the Americas prior to Columbus. However, skepticism has been raised regarding this theory, as the Romans primarily engaged in trade within the Mediterranean and the Middle East, lacking significant incentive to invest in transoceanic voyages.

Rio de Janeiro