Survey results for Delos

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In the period from May 25 to June 15, 2016, continued research - surveying Delos under the direction of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities in cooperation with the National Research Foundation. The purpose of underwater research was reflected residues located in the sea area of the district of Skardana.

During the research mission identified and reflected in the buildings walls foreshore along the coastline. Also identified and reflected components fallen colonnade in depth from 20 cm to 5 meters and a building , which seems most likely belonged to a port facility for the identification of which only the excavation will give more information.

The existence of the ancient port facilities are part of another port in the region. In the region located 35 meters northwest of the bay Skardana discovered shipwreck dating back to the Late Hellenistic Age.

From the results of underwater research at Delos, that as in the cove of End Stage, which the team had studied in 2014 and 2015, and in the cove of quarter of Skardana operated a port shopping, using an auxiliary in the central ancient port of Delos. Additionally, the research mission conducted underwater exploratory autopsies to identify ancient shipwrecks between Delos and Rhenia during which identified seven (7) ancient shipwrecks of merchant ships. These five (5) wrecks the Late Hellenistic wreck of the Roman period and a shipwreck which was carrying building material.

This indicates that Delos has experienced a rapid growth after 167 BC, when the Romans turned it into a commercial basis linking the eastern and western Mediterranean. Furthermore, the channel between Delos Rinia and is one of the main water passages.

Excavation / Research Antikythera Shipwreck From May 22 to June 11, 2016

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From May 22 until June 11, 2016 the scientific team of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities and American Oceanographic Institute Woods Hole, which investigates the Antikythera Shipwreck, completed another expedition with very interesting results.

Initially continued the excavation, which began last fall. They conducted in parallel trenches at various points in an attempt to identify the limits of space, which was the main concentration of the load and possibly the remains of the ship itself.
The wide dispersion of the ceramic, the deep and disturbing, which has brought the refloated in 1900 and the excavation of 1976, make this task difficult. However, the possibility of accurate positioning of any information in highly detailed digital map of the area (GIS), understanding the limits of the wreck is getting better. This contributes to the mechanical detection elements below the bottom surface, which give the appearance of the dispersion of the ceramic charge, and the metal elements of the ship itself such as nails, iron slag, portions of epimolyvdosis.
The findings were about 60 to -55m depth and are as follows:
A second bronze spear with the tip, following the first detected in 2014, four fragments of marble statues, from which stands out a left hand wrist. The end of a leg of wooden furniture with copper plating, fragments of glass vessels and other blown millefiori-type glass jars, one Lagyna, one jug and a ring gold are some of the most important findings.
Particularly illustrative are the elements of the ship itself, as nails of various types of resin mass leaves from epimolyvdosi board wrapped or folded leaden plates, a leaden pipe, possibly the water pump (bilges) of the vessel and a lead weight ( counterweight?) around 100 kg. This category probably belong the iron slag masses, which maintain their inner shape of the object.
Finally, the area investigated, related to the existence of another wreck and now there is objective evidence for the existence of a second ship. This is a lead different caliber tube and different nail type, tiles and different types of amphora and Lagyna.

An investigation is under the auspices of the President of the Republic II. Pavlopoulos, conducted under the direction of the Head of the Inspectorate of Underwater Antiquities Dr. A.Simosi.
The Department of Underwater Antiquities also participated in the International Shipping Exhibition "Posidonia" 2016 which took place from 6 to 10 June 2016 in which it placed visual material concerning the ongoing underwater archaeological research in the South Evian Gulf.
At the same time and by the end of the year, will be on display at the Maritime Museum of Greece in the context of the exhibition "OLKAS. From the Sea to the Black Sea. Medieval ports-stations sea routes of the East "finds the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the sinking of the French yponafarchidas" La Thérèse ", which sank in 1669 in Dermata Gulf during the fall of Candia to the Turks.

Ancient Shipwreck Peristeras

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Ancient Shipwreck of Peristeras. The largest shipwreck of classic Civilisation was discovered by Kostas Mavrikis in the channel between Alonnisos and Peristera island, almost opposite the Steni Vala, the sea-side village of Alonnissos.

The ship, which was probably an Athenian cargo ship, sank to a depth of about 30 metres in around 425 – 415 B.C.

Its load was 3,000 – 4,000 wine amphoras from Mendi of Chalkidiki and Peparithos, today’s Skopelos, two of the most important wine-making town-states of the ancient Hellenic world.

Excavation revealed more important findings, such as black-painted vessels, one lead part of an anchor, plates, an oenochoe and a pot.

This cargo ship weighed more than 11 tonnes, which reveals, contrary to previous beliefs, that Greeks were extremely capable in shipbuilding, even of such size.

Systematic searching began in 1992 and were interrupted in 1994. The photographs that one diver took on behalf of National Geographic have not been published yet, as the Central Archaeological Council has not given permission.

Thus, the largest shipwreck in Greek seas remains “sunk” in Greek bureaucracy and the Aegean waters still cover its secrets.

Underwater Excavations of a Late Fifth Century Merchant Ship at Alonnesos, Greece

Abstract
The largest 5th century B.C. shipwreck yet known in the world was discovered recently off the island of Alonnesos in the Northern Sporades. The ship carried a cargo of wine, and sank some time in the last quarter of the 5th century B.C. in waters 30 m in depth. It was loaded with wine amphoras from the town of Mende on the Macedonian coast, as well as from the island of Skopelos, both places famous in antiquity for the quality of their wines, which were exported all over the Mediterranean and to the Black Sea. The ship also carried a large quantity of Athenian black glaze symposium tableware. Classical ships discovered previously in Greece, Cyprus, France, Italy, and Israël have not exceeded 17 m in length and 4 m in width. The Alonnesos shipwreck is at least 25 m in length and 10 m in width, and is significant because it provides the first archaeological evidence that cargo vessels over one hundred tons burden travelled the Mediterranean as early as the 5th century B.C. I. Historical Background

Πρόκεινται δε τών Μαγνητών νήσοι συχναϊ μεν οα S έν ονόματι Σκίαθός τε και Πεπάρηθος και Ίκός, 'Αλόννησος τε και Σκύρος, ομώνυμους έχουσαι πόλεις6.
The island of Alonnesos mentioned hère by Strabo was not the modem Alonnesos, but one of the two islands to the north, Pelagonisi or Agios Eustratios.7 Its only historical significance is that in the 5th c. B.C. it was part of the Athenian empire, and in 345 B.C.,
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