Off the coast of Sicily, near the ancient city of Gela, recovery operations are underway for the 5th-century BCE Greek shipwreck, “Gela II.” The wreck, discovered in 1980 by divers near Bulala, is a vital historical find that has yielded numerous treasures, most notably orichalcum, a metal alloy with connections to the legendary city of Atlantis.
The Gela II wreck, which lies about 1,000 feet underwater, is remarkably well-preserved. Underwater archaeologists first investigated the site in the 1990s, but it was in 2015 and 2017 that significant discoveries were made. Over these two expeditions, 86 ingots of orichalcum were recovered from the seabed.
Orichalcum, derived from the Greek word “oreikhalkos” meaning “mountain copper,” has long been a subject of fascination. Classical sources like Plato’s Critias describe orichalcum as a highly valuable metal, second only to gold.