Arles-Rhône 3

The water extraction and presentation of the gallo-roman barge Arles-Rhône 3 was initiated by the Conseil-Général des Bouches-du-Rhône with the support of the Drassm in the ministry of cultural heritage. This major operation (9 million euros) started in 2011 with the excavation and the extraction of the shipwreck. Seven month were spent for the extraction, pieces by pieces. A mixed team of archaeologist, divers, art conservators, photographers and technicians was created to carry on this operation of excavation and extraction of a 31 meter long barge.

During this intervention; art restorators interviened side by side with archaeologists, once the pieces were extracted from the water to accomplish the full documentation of the shipwreck, the dismantling and reconditionning of the ships elements all the way to the Arc Nucléart (Grenoble) laboratory, where the wooden pieces filled with water were treated for two years (from July 2011 to July 2013)

The wreck was stabilized and reassembled and is currently in exhibit at the recently enlarged (for this precise artpiece) Musée départemental Arles antique.

Middle of the I^st century A.D.

Water filled wooden pieces, metals, textile elements

Musée départemental Arles antique/CG13, Drassm/Ministère de la Culture, société archéologique Ipso Facto, société de travaux subaquatiques O’Can, ateliers de restauration Arc-Nucléart et A-Corros, atelier de soclage CIC Orio, laboratoires CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université.