Human
Huge Antikythera Greek Ship Wreck is the 'Titanic' of the Ancient World
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Oct 13, 2014 07:34 AM EDT
Divers and archaeologists have uncovered a spectacular find deep beneath the ocean waves. They've found an ancient Greek ship that sank more than 2,000 years ago off the remote island of Antikythera. The new findings reveal a bit more about the time period and the people that lived.
The wreck was actually first discovered in 1900 by sponge divers who were blown off course by a storm. These divers recovered a haul of ancient treasure that included bronze and marble statues, jewelry, furniture, luxury glassware and the surprisingly complex Antikythera Mechanism. However, further recovery was cut short after one diver died of the bends, the result of staying too far underwater for too long, and two other divers were paralyzed.
Now, archaeologists have relocated the site and have taken another look at the treasures left over after the sunken ship was abandoned. They created a high-resolution, 3D map of the site using stereo cameras mounted on an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Divers then recovered a series of finds that showed that the ship's cargo is still present and waiting to be uncovered.
"The evidence shows this is the largest ancient shipwreck ever discovered," said Brendan Foley, one of the archaeologists, in a news release. "It's the Titanic of the ancient world."
The ship included components such as multiple lead anchors and a bronze rigging ring with fragments that are still attached. The pieces of the ship are scattered over about 300 meters of the seafloor; with the size of the anchors as evidence, the researchers estimate the ship was about 50 meters long.
This time around, the archaeologists recovered an intact table jug, part of an ornate bed leg, and a 2-meter-long bronze spear that probably belonged to a giant statue-possibly one of Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
Currently, the archaeologists are looking forward to future finds at the site. They hope to uncover more secrets about the past by studying the remains of this ancient ship-and uncover more treasures, as well.
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First Posted: Oct 13, 2014 07:34 AM EDT
Divers and archaeologists have uncovered a spectacular find deep beneath the ocean waves. They've found an ancient Greek ship that sank more than 2,000 years ago off the remote island of Antikythera. The new findings reveal a bit more about the time period and the people that lived.
The wreck was actually first discovered in 1900 by sponge divers who were blown off course by a storm. These divers recovered a haul of ancient treasure that included bronze and marble statues, jewelry, furniture, luxury glassware and the surprisingly complex Antikythera Mechanism. However, further recovery was cut short after one diver died of the bends, the result of staying too far underwater for too long, and two other divers were paralyzed.
Now, archaeologists have relocated the site and have taken another look at the treasures left over after the sunken ship was abandoned. They created a high-resolution, 3D map of the site using stereo cameras mounted on an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Divers then recovered a series of finds that showed that the ship's cargo is still present and waiting to be uncovered.
"The evidence shows this is the largest ancient shipwreck ever discovered," said Brendan Foley, one of the archaeologists, in a news release. "It's the Titanic of the ancient world."
The ship included components such as multiple lead anchors and a bronze rigging ring with fragments that are still attached. The pieces of the ship are scattered over about 300 meters of the seafloor; with the size of the anchors as evidence, the researchers estimate the ship was about 50 meters long.
This time around, the archaeologists recovered an intact table jug, part of an ornate bed leg, and a 2-meter-long bronze spear that probably belonged to a giant statue-possibly one of Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
Currently, the archaeologists are looking forward to future finds at the site. They hope to uncover more secrets about the past by studying the remains of this ancient ship-and uncover more treasures, as well.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone