This study presents a finite element-based numerical simulation of a shipwreck scenario at the 4th-century BC underwater archaeological site near the island of Žirje, integrating engineering analysis with archaeological interpretation. The site is notable for the wide scattering of amphorae across the seafloor. A scaled model, based on the well-documented Kyrenia shipwreck, found off the coast of Cyprus, was developed to approximate the estimated parameters of the Žirje vessel, incorporating reduced dimensions, an adjusted freeboard, and a total deadweight of approximately six tons. The finite element model of the ship, its cargo, and the seabed was developed using LS-DYNA R11.1. software. Instead of fluid modelling, the study employed explicit dynamic analysis with a rigid seabed, gravitational loading, and automatic contact to reduce computational cost. A series of parametric simulations explored the effects of roll, yaw, and varying gravitational forces on the sinking behaviour and cargo dispersion. Results indicate that only certain non-uniform sinking conditions, combined with seabed currents, accurately replicate the archaeological distribution of the amphorae. This approach underscores the value of integrating finite element analysis (FEA) with archaeological data to generate digitally supported hypotheses, demonstrating how numerical reconstruction can enhance the interpretation of complex underwater archaeological sites.
Sviličić et al. (Thu,) studied this question.