Sometime around the year 340, a boat carrying gold coins, silver ingots, medals and other precious metals sank in 20m of water very close to its destination in Arles. It was heading for one of 3 workshops in the Roman port to discharge its cargo. The gold coins bore the head of the late emperor Constantine II and were to be melted down on the orders of his brother Constans I who preferred to have his own head on the coinage.
What a find for Luc Long and the team of specialists based at the Musée departemental Arles Antique. Many of you will remember them finding a complete Roman boat back in 2013 and will have visited it, so well restored and in a new wing of the museum: https://aixcentric.com/2013/10/07/rescued-from-the-rhone-roman-boat-in-arles/
Epave Arles-Rhone3. Arles 2011.
c. Teddy Seguin
Working conditions in the river are dark and polluted, and apparently the archaeologists are hampered by a powerful current that is becoming increasingly abrasive.
In fact the previous year, the team had carefully examined the area where this boat – Arles Rhone 24 – was discovered and found nothing.
Similarly the head of Julius Caesar was revealed in 2007 from a site previously searched.
Goodness knows what has been swept away – or what will be revealed.
But work is ongoing on the latest discovery which will make a fascinating display one day in the museum beside the river.
It’s a fabulous museum to take children who also enjoy the Roman garden.
About an hour’s drive from Aix; lots of parking. Blue building in photo below:
Vue arienne du Muse Departemental de l’Arles antique c. R. Benali
aixcentric 
Wow, that is really exciting historical news. The Musée departemental Arles Antique is well worth visiting.
Yes it is. Those archaeologists do a remarkable job, and the museum is fascinating…..and not crowded. I’m used to London where most exhibitions are such a scrum – I love the space and peace of this place.