MAPS -archaeological Museum Portus Scarbris

The excavation works of the new port have brought to light an extensive and huge deposit of finds accumulated over the centuries on the seabed of the Puntone di Scarlino area. The high concentration of these finds revealed an intense traffic of merchant ships as early as the third century BC. The discovery is important as a probative indication of the presence in this area of ​​the famous “Portus Scabris” cited by ancient sources. Among the archaeological finds there are objects accidentally fallen into the sea during the loading and unloading of ships, amphorae and pottery damaged during voyages and thrown into the sea to free the holds. Through artifacts kept by the sea for centuries, the exhibition aims to reconstruct the life of the port and return a fragment of local history. The museum is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the past of the territory and to accompany the underwater archaeologist in the work of excavation and documentation, thanks to the observation of his work and the tools used. The museum is housed in an early 20th century hydraulic toll booth overlooking a wetland, the Scarlino marsh, once a large and healthy coastal lake, now a protected area of ​​international naturalistic importance (Ramsar convention). The MAPS Museum carries out educational workshops and excursions.