Archeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old ancient port underwater in a major breakthrough.
The discovery was made in the ancient Greek city of Asini, near the coastal village of Tolo on the Peloponnese peninsula.
It was found during an ongoing underwater research project led by Greek archaeologist Dr Panagiota Galiatsatou and Swedish researchers Professor Ann-Louise Schallin and Dr Niklas Eriksson.
The team focused on a section of an artificial platform submerged in shallow waters.
A large stone foundation was found, believed to be part of the ancient port’s infrastructure
MINISTRY OF CULTURE OF GREECE
Experts from Greece’s Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the Swedish Institute at Athens, Stockholm University, the University of Gothenburg, and the Nordic Maritime Group used advanced photography techniques to document the structural elements within a 16-square-metre area.
A large stone foundation was found, believed to be part of the ancient port’s infrastructure.
Archeologists also discovered stones and fragments of the construction materials, which indicated that the structure gradually collapsed over time.
In “Sector 4A” of the area, researchers found ceramic fragments including amphora pieces embedded in stone structures as well as a broken vessel.
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These artefacts could provise valuable insight into the dating of the port, and create a further understanding of when the platform was operational.
The ancient city is known for being a hotspot of archeological discoveries, known for the ruins of Ancient Asini, which was mentioned in Homer’s Iliad.
A rocky hill known as Kastraki near the modern village is also home to the remains of a Mycenaean-era settlement.
Excavations were carried out there by Swedish archeologists in the 1920s.
Researchers are planning to conduct further excavations to look into the upper section of the artificial platform
MINISTRY OF CULTURE OF GREECE
Researchers are planning to conduct further excavations to look into the upper section of the artificial platform.
They are set to remove sediment manually and use controlled dredging to reveal more structures.
The findings can play a significant role in reshaping the understanding of Mediterranean maritime history.