Detecting 8 2,000-year-old wrecks under Greek sea

Experts found many debris and items on ships from Roman times in the waters off Naxos Island.

Archaeologists discovered 8 dating back about 2,000 years to a depth of 30 m in the sea near the island of Naxos, Greece, Newsweek reported yesterday. Scientists were surprised because the depth of the sea was very small and the island was also a popular tourist destination.

Naxos Island was once famous for exporting high quality marble. In the Eastern Roman period, the southern port of Parnamos was the main operating port. The original purpose of archaeologists when coming here is to find traces of this port.

Archaeologists group studies the vestiges of the sea floor.(Photo: Newsweek).

However, when a local diver led the research team to two nearby reefs, they found ancient vessels and anchors in the first strip and some wrecks in the other. The number of ships may be 4, according to archaeologist Sven Ahrens, who manages at Oslo Naval Museum.

After finding the first 4 ships, the researchers continued to work with the underwater navigation system and discovered 4 more wrecks and many more ancient vessels. In addition to passengers, the ships can carry goods such as olive oil, wine, and armor. Ahrens and his colleagues also discovered some construction materials such as bricks, roof tiles and a small stone colored slab that they consider a cosmetic mixer.

The first four ships may appear from the Hellenistic period, around the 3rd century BC to the year 600. The ships of the second group have not been studied, but the analysis of the clay used for manufacturing Stock containers will help determine their origin.

The team plans to dive and bring the probe into the wreck area in 2018. They believe that many other valuable artifacts still remain under this sea.