Divers Discover 2,000-Year-Old Hull of Shipwreck With Hundreds of Roman-Era Artifacts Off Greece

An international team of archeologists examine 2,000-year-old finds underwater, off the coast of Antikythera, Greece. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

In the year 1900, while sailing the Aegean Sea around Easter weekend, several Greek men were diving for sponges to earn their keep when they decided to try their hand at something new and adventurous.

Off the coast of the island of Antikythera, northwest of Crete, Elias Stadiatis dove down 148 feet and saw their ticket to become ocean wreck explorers. His first tale of corpses and horses on the seafloor was dismissed by his cohorts, who said he was drunk on nitrogen, but he soon surfaced again holding a bronze arm.

When sponge season ended, they made a special stop there again and retrieved the first haul from a trove of artifacts—among the richest surviving from the ancient world. Statues of Hercules, Apollo, and Odysseus, extracted in 1901, were just the beginning.

Although those sponge divers’ days exploring wrecks ended, the next year, researchers produced what later was said to be the corroded gears of the world’s oldest computer. And after a lull of a few decades, more finds emerged from near Antikythera again in 1953, in 1976, and from 2012 until more marble statues were dredged up in 2021.

In 2024, the dives continue.

The discovery of a ship's hull may help researchers answer questions posed by the 2,000-year-old shipwrecks. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

In June, divers returned to the shipwreck off the coast of Antikythera and made several remarkable discoveries. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

The divers found 300 objects and part of the hull of a ship. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

In June, Swiss archeologists (sponsored by Swiss watchmaker Hublot) took the plunge and made a number of startling new revelations. Professor Lorenz Baumer, from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), led an international team and confirmed what robotic surveys had hinted at before: they dove near Antikythera and saw a second shipwreck on the ocean floor, 650 feet from the first. Among the wrecks were also found new portions of hull with original fasteners and external protective coating still in excellent condition. And they came away with 300 more objects, including pieces of marble statues.

The wooden hull of the ship, dated some 2,000 years old, was of particular interest to Mr. Baumer, as it drew back the curtain on the ways of shipbuilding in Roman times. New finds told how ancient shipmakers used the “shell first” method—where builders make the hull first with boards before installing the ribs inside—as opposed to today’s method where the hull is built after the ribs.

Researchers used cutting-edge technology to conduct their research on the two shipwreck sites. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

Divers dug new trenches after confirming the existence of a second wreck about 650 feet from the first. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

A diver holds up a ceramic object discovered at the dive site. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

Marble fragments found at the sites are believed to be pieces of Roman-era statues, possibly the spoils of Roman general Sulla. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

Divers examine 2,000-year-old artifacts on the ocean floor near Antikythera. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

The shipwreck near Antikythera was first found in 1900 but has brought researchers back for over a century, making the site one of the most important discoveries of ancient world artifacts. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

“This structure allows us to better understand the ship’s construction characteristics that had remained elusive until now, but also to determine the precise location and orientation of the wreck,” Mr. Baumer said in a press release.

The new hull portion may answer crucial questions about what caused it to sink.

The second wooden vessel was scouted near the first, marking an entirely new site distinct from the other. There was found a concentration of pottery. New excavation trenches were opened up at both sites and have yielded a wealth of new objects.

The research team had state-of-the-art technological equipment at their disposal and was supported by both the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece (ESAG) and Hellenic Coast Guard. Underwater operations were studied in real-time with remotely operated vehicles and digital 3D models. Divers used closed-circuit mixed-gas rebreathers for safety and to stretch the lengths of their dives.

Marble fragments found on the seafloor off the coast of Antikythera. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

All their work and technology helped them uncover 300 objects on the seafloor. There were 21 marble fragments, 200 ceramic shards such as broken amphorae, pieces of the hull, and numerous other artifacts among the shipwrecks. These were documented by researchers from UNIGE, the University of Ioannina, and the Nereus Research Foundation.

“The marble fragments discovered suggest the presence of several statues, while analysis of the amphorae revealed an abundance of varied types, including amphorae from Chios and Rhodes,” the ESAG press release stated. “Analyses have also revealed the use of mastic in some amphorae for their waterproofing.”

Fragments of amphorae found at the shipwreck sites off the coast of Antikythera. Courtesy of Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece

Two ships sank in such proximity to each other carrying works of Roman art over 2,000 years ago—what could it mean? These new finds may unravel many puzzles. Previously, hull planking found in 1964 was carbon dated to between 220 and 43 B.C. However, this is believed to be an inaccuracy, because the the wood probably came from an old tree that was cut down much earlier than the ship’s sinking. Coins found there in 1970 were minted between 75 and 67 B.C. It is thought that the ships may have been en route to Rome carrying spoils of the Roman general Sulla from Athens and part of his triumphal procession was plundered near Antikythera.

The bottom line?

“For the first time since its discovery by sponge divers in 1900, the systematic scientific approach has shed new light on this iconic site. Excavations in previous years had raised crucial questions about the potential involvement of several ships in this ancient tragedy,” ESAG stated. “This year’s research can partly answer these questions.”

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