Archaeologists have discovered a ‘shipwreck graveyard’ dating back greater than 2,600 years off the coast of an ancient Greek island.
Karpathos, which was referenced in texts by Homer and later inspired the science fiction author Jules Verne, has long been related to maritime exploration.
Over the previous few months researchers have found five shipwrecks near the island – 4 ancient, one modern – with the earliest dating back to across the seventh century BC.
Teams of Greek and international researchers focused on areas where stays of the traditional settlements of Vrykountos and Nisyros are visible.
These were two of the 4 city-states that formed the so-called ‘Karpathian tetrapolis’, a significant political and maritime network as described by the traditional geographer Strabo.
Greater than 120 dives were carried out at depths starting from three to 45 metres across northern Karpathos and the nearby island of Saria.
The team discovered underwater stays spanning greater than 26 centuries, from the late seventh century BC to the early nineteenth century.
Amongst probably the most significant discoveries were the 4 ancient shipwrecks, stretching from earlier Greek times, when Sparta was at its peak, to the Roman era.
Quite a few amphorae (double-handed vases that stored water, oil or wine) were discovered.
The team also found the stays of harbour infrastructure and greater than 20 Byzantine anchors, indicating that at one time there was significant marine traffic in the world.
Researchers say the finds, along with extensive residential and ecclesiastical stays at Tristomo, highlight the importance of the world during Late Antiquity.
The expedition involved greater than 40 specialists from a spread of disciplines, including archaeologists from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropological Research and staff from the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
The project received funding from several private and non-private bodies, including Greece’s General Secretariat for Aegean and Island Policy and the National Research Foundation.
Alongside the survey, a separate initiative examining the impact of climate change on underwater cultural heritage has also been accomplished.
This included conservation work on historical artefacts within the waters around Kasos.
It’s also a part of a wider research programme launched in 2019 to map underwater cultural heritage within the south-eastern Aegean.
MORE: Should UK use more tidal power? Readers debate
MORE: The very best destinations for April sun — all lower than 4 hours from the UK
MORE: Greece’s Blue City is ‘untroubled by tourists’ but now it’s getting latest Jet2 flights