Known as the “Camarat 4,” the ship was loaded with cannons, cauldrons and hundreds of ceramics—which are still visible on the seafloor. Researchers are surveying the site and carefully recovering a small selection of artifacts

A remotely operated vehicle captured this image of the ceramics from the Camarat 4 Thibaud Moritz / AFP via Getty Images

At least 400 years ago, a merchant ship was sailing across the Mediterranean Sea when it sank off the southeastern coast of France. Its cargo, hundreds of carefully crafted ceramic plates and jugs, tumbled into the watery darkness and settled onto the seafloor. The handmade treasures wouldn’t be seen again for centuries.

Then, in 2025, the French Navy stumbled across the ship when it was conducting an exploratory deep-sea operation.…