Calculating the Tonnage and the Dimension of the Cargos of Marble of Roman Period

The 3D models produced from the photogrammetrical documentation of cargos of marble of Roman period, lying along the seabed of Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia, are used to reconstruct the minimun dimensions of the ships carrying these special transportations. Since the hull remains in these sites are very poor, the 3D reconstruction of the cargo is the only possibility to estimate the tonnage and size of these vessels. After a reconstruction of the original assemblage of blocks and columns of marble, the 3D model is used to calculate the hydrostatic characteristics of the ship. Comparisons of these ship-models with data from the two known big onerariae, carrying amphoras are made.