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Antikythera seabed holds more treasures

The sea around the island of Antikythera has yielded a veritable archeological treasure trove, but recent studies show that the sea may be hiding even more precious items.

 

Research conducted in the area by the Seabed Antiquities Ephorate, aided technologically by the Woods Hole Oceanographic institute, shows that there are actually two shipwrecks in the vicinity.

In 2014, divers will attempt to conduct a further search of shipwrecks that in the past yielded the famous Antikythera Mechanism and at least 36 statues.

The wealth of objects is explained by the fact that ships laden with looted art and tech works from Greece was being shipped to Rome, and sunk en route, off Antikythera. Scientists hope to recover more artifacts and technical objects because of protrusions on the seabed.

Through Edge Tech-4600 seabed mapping technology, all of the coastline surrounding the island of Antikythera (around 30 klm worth) to a depth of 120 m, with special emphasis on the arae of the known Roman shipwreck.

The Seabed Antiquities Ephorate is convinced that more finds will be recovered, since apart from the Roman shipwreck site, six more shipwrecks have been found off the western peninsulas of Crete, three of which are from Roman times.

Archeologists have also found a modern metal steamer, and the remains, possibly, of HMS Cambrian which sank while bombarding pirates holed up at Gramvousa fort in January 1828.

portion of Antikythera Mechanism, a hellenistic age analog computer.

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