Underwater archaeologists have made new discoveries in the famous Antikythera shipwreck. They became possible after removing several tonne boulders from a previously inaccessible part of the wreck. Among the new finds uncovered are the head of a marble statue of Hercules, parts of a ship’s anchor and two human teeth. The latter are particularly exciting because the genetic material of the ancient seafarers could be extracted from them, providing information about their origin.
More than 2,000 years ago, one of the largest freighters of antiquity sank off the Greek island of Antikythera. The ship, a good 50 meters long, was loaded with luxury goods from Asia Minor intended for wealthy Romans. The wreck of this ship was discovered by sponge divers in 1900. In the years that followed, divers recovered numerous ancient finds, including silverware, ceramics, glass vessels and bronze and marble statues depicting Roman gods and ancient mythical figures. Most spectacular and well-known, however, is the Antikythera Mechanism, an intricate bronze instrument that could represent planetary constellations and celestial events.
Boulders, a statue base and the head of Hercules
But the wreck of Antikythera has not yet been fully explored. This is one of the reasons why underwater archaeologists have been conducting new dives to the shipwreck on behalf of the Greek archeology authorities for several years as part of the “Return to Antikythera” project. The aim is to gain more knowledge about the ship, its cargo and the circumstances of its sinking. From May 23 to June 15, 2022, the most recent research dives to the wreck took place. The divers first used special harnesses and balloons filled with compressed air to remove several boulders weighing up to 8.5 tons that previously covered part of the shipwreck.
As a result, the underwater archaeologists led by Alexandros Sotiriou from the University of Geneva were able to examine previously inaccessible parts of the Antikythera wreck for the first time – and make further ancient finds. Below them is the base of a marble statue with the lower legs of a figure. The divers also found the larger-than-life marble head of a bearded man. From the design of the facial features, archaeologists conclude that it is a representation of Hercules of the so-called Farnese type. According to them, this could be the missing head of the headless figure of the so-called “Heracles of Antikythera” discovered in the wreck in 1900.
Findings of teeth could provide information about the crew
Of particular importance are two human teeth that the divers discovered in a solid conglomerate of marine deposits, copper fragments, remains of wood and other materials. So far, hardly any relics of the former crew have been found in the wreck, only in 2016 the archaeologists managed to salvage an incomplete skeleton. It is still unclear whether the two teeth that have now been found belong to this skeleton or to another individual. However, the researchers hope to get more information about its former carrier through genetic and isotopic analyzes of the teeth. Because straight teeth can conserve such information over a long period of time.
In addition, pieces of ancient naval equipment were also found in the Antikythera wreck, including numerous bronze and iron nails, the lead sheathing of a wooden anchor, and several amorphous ferrous clumps that require further study. X-ray analyzes will be used to determine what is hidden in these structures, as the team explains. All finds, their position and the exposed wreckage were documented and digitally recorded on site. They will then be integrated into a 3D model of the shipwreck that is currently being developed. The finds from the wreck were taken to special laboratories of the Hellenic Authority for Underwater Archeology for further analysis.
Source: Return to Antikythera Project