2022EUROMED 2022 - Maritime Archaeology & Historical Cities of the Mediterranean - First Day Cover

MaltaPost has again this year joined members of the Euromed Postal Joint Stamp Project in the issue of a set of stamps bearing a common theme. This is an annual commitment along the lines of the EUROPA stamp issue. The theme for 2022 is Maritime Archaeology & Historic Cities of the Mediterranean and in this regard MaltaPost has produced two stamps both related to Gozo.

The stamp on marine archaeology reproduces an image of a shipwreck off the coast of Xlendi Bay, by the University of Malta / Dave Gration Project that took upon the discovery and excavation of the site in 2007 and subsequently explored in 2014. This ancient shipwreck was found to include a 15m long Phoenician trading vessel dating to the 7th century, together with a handsome cache of ceramic amphorae lying partially exposed on the seabed. Given the date of the wreck, the site was considered to be extremely well preserved. In 2014, marine archaeologists used an exploratory submarine with instruments and sensors that provided 3D photogrammetric images.