Date:

Underwater archaeologists excavate Byzantine shipwreck near Samos

Underwater archaeologists have excavated a Byzantine shipwreck near the Greek island of Samos in the East Aegean.

The shipwreck, one of 58 identified in the Fourni islands archipelago as part of the framework of the EU’s Interreg VA Greece-Cyprus 2014-2020 program, was selected for further study by the Culture Ministry of Greece due to the wrecks relatively high level of preservation.

The archipelago is famous for being a hub of the Ancient World and a major route for the transportation of goods across the Mediterranean.

The wreck is located off the Fygos promontory (Aspros Kavos) at a depth of 43-48 metres and dates from between AD 480 to AD 520. The shipwreck’s chronology range places it within the rule of Anastasius I (491-518 AD), a Byzantine Emperor whose reign was characterised by reforms to reinvigorate the monetary economy and leaving the empire with a stable government.

- Advertisement -
un2
Image Credit : AMNA

Excavations were led by underwater archaeologist Giorgos Koutsouflakis along with a team of specialist divers, who carried out 292 individual dives amounting to nearly 220 hours of underwater work.

After clearing sand from the surface and opening a trial trench, the team found six types of amphorae from Crimea and Heraclea Pontica on the Black Sea coast, and multiple pieces of ceramic tableware from Phocaea in NW Asia Minor.

AMNA

Header Image Credit : AMNA

- Advertisement -
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is an award winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 7,500 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education and the BCA Medal of Honour.

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Prison bakery for enslaved people found in Roman Pompeii

Archaeologists have uncovered a Prison bakery during recent excavations in Pompeii.

Baboons in Ancient Egypt were raised in captivity before being mummified

In a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, researchers examined a collection of baboon mummies from the ancient Egyptian site of Gabbanat el-Qurud, the so-called Valley of the Monkeys on the west bank of Luxor.

Archaeologists find 22 mummified burials in Peru

A Polish-Peruvian team of archaeologists have uncovered 22 mummified burials in Barranca, Peru.

Oldest prehistoric fortress found in remote Siberia

An international team, led by archaeologists from Freie Universität Berlin has uncovered an ancient prehistoric fortress in a remote region of Siberia known as Amnya.

Top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2023

The field of archaeology has been continuously evolving in 2023, making significant strides in uncovering new historical findings, preserving cultural heritage, and employing innovative technologies to study the past.

War in Ukraine sees destruction of cultural heritage not witnessed since WW2

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has resulted in a significant loss of human lives and the national and international displacement of many Ukrainian people.

Archaeologists find five Bronze Age axes in the forests of Kociewie

According to an announcement by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, archaeologists have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie, Poland.

Origins of English Christmas traditions

Christmas embodies a tapestry of ritual traditions and customs shared by many countries and cultures. Some hearken back to ancient times, while others represent more recent innovations.