More artifacts have been dug out from the floor of the Aegean Sea, but divers have stated that the Greek Antikythera shipwreck is still hiding treasure, just waiting to be discovered. The once likely beautiful ship has been the site of valuable items found beneath the sands and sediments.
- The shipwreck is dated back thousands of years ago, to 65 B.C.
- It was first discovered in 1900
- Divers first found numerous marble statues and the Antikythera Mechanism 115 years ago
- In 2015, they uncovered more than 50 artifacts
- They plan more dives in the future, as they believe there is more to be found
Dated back to 65 B.C., the shipwreck was first found by fishermen in 1900, sunk into the sea off the Antikythera Island in Greece. Since then, it has been the subject of multiple diving expeditions, resurfacing valuable 36 marble statues and intricate sculptures of rare, ancient beauty that adorned the homes of affluent Greeks thousands of years ago.
More importantly, it was the site of the famous Antikythera Mechanism. Revealed 115 years ago, it was believed to be the world’s first analog computer, a device considered “out of time” due to its intricate capabilities. It was revealed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) that it “encoded the movements of the planets and stars and predicted eclipses”.
And yet, there’s more to be found. In 2014, another expedition was planned by an international team of marine archaeologists from the United States and Greece.
They once again put on their gear and were able to reach incredible depths. For the first time, divers were able to swim down to 180 feet below the surface, and used high-tech equipment to both excavate items and create a 3D map of the area.
It was one of the biggest underwater archaeological projects in the world, mapping around 10,500 square feet of sea floor, and spending a whopping 40 hours into the depths. They reportedly achieved 61 separate dives and came up with numerous valuable remains.
The ten members of the diving team uncovered over 50 artifacts that were buried underneath the thick layer of broken ceramics hardened by time.
Among their more precious discoveries, they dug out a bronze armrest that was suggested to have been part of a throne, remains of a bone flute, “fine glassware, luxury ceramics, a pawn from an ancient board game, and several elements of the ship itself”, according to WHOI. It’s quite an amazing find after the shipwreck rested beneath the waters for thousands of years.
According to marine archaeologists Dr. Brendan Foley, with each single dive, there are more artifacts to be brought back to the surface that reveal “how the 1% lived in the time of Caesar”. It’s a curious insight into a long extinct world, in the time of empires, wars, and inventions that we still use to this day.
However, it’s still not done yet. Foley has claimed that the shipwreck is far from being fully explored, and the team plans more excursions in the future.
Image source: baringtheaegis.blogspot.com
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