In Antiquity, the important town of Tindari must have had a harbour, considering its strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea that allows it to hold a prominent military and trading role (Reddé, 1986; fig.1).
Fig.1 - Geomorphological reconstruction of the coastline between Elicona to Tindari Cape based on IGMI Istituto Geografico Militare Italiano maps between 1865 to 1968.
The position of the historical buildings, as well as the position of iron rings numbers 1 to 4, are also indicated.
Due to its position, on a steep slope 280 m high, Tindari dominated and controlled the maritime traffic for many centuries. Unfortunately, the harbour remains have been lost over the centuries and historical sources, despite describing the different naval wars in the waters facing the ancient town, do not yield any information on the harbour location, its size and configuration. Polybius (I, 25) reports that in 257 BC the Carthaginians observed some of the enemies who we...