The 2024 mission to the Antikythera wreckage took place between May 17 and June 20, as part of the 2021-2025 research program implemented by the Swiss School of Archeology in Greece and supervised by Ephorate of Marine Antiquities in Ministry of Culture. Exceptionally good weather conditions allowed the team to make significant progress in the field work. The excavations yielded numerous finds, with the discovery of an important part of the ship’s hull being of exceptional importance.
![Antikythera shipwreck: a significant part of the ship's hull was found 1 Kuthira 2](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kuthira-2.jpg)
For the first time since its discovery by Symbian sponges in 1900, the systematic scientific approach carried out by the international research team led by Dr. Angeliki G. Simosi (Honorary Director of Antiquities at the Ministry of Antiquities) and Professor of Archaeology Lorenz Baumer (University of Geneva) intend to better understand the site of the famous shipwreck and re-examine one of the richest ship cargoes of antiquity. The investigation simultaneously raises new questions: Was there only one ship involved in this ancient maritime tragedy? How exactly did the sinking happen? Did the remains recovered in recent years belong to passengers or crew?
To answer these questions, several techniques have been designed and implemented:
Planning and feedback were aided by the database and Geographic Information System (GIS) created in previous years. Hublot Xplorations remotely operated vehicles and their underwater mission unit Coast Guard were used to monitor and coordinate all underwater operations in real time and to build 3D digital models of selected areas. 3D models of the surveyed objects were created thanks to a special scanner developed specifically for the research project by Hublot’s watchmaking R&D department.
![Antikythera shipwreck: a significant part of the ship's hull was found 2 Kuthira](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kuthira.jpg)
A specialized manned underwater surface survey methodology was applied to the entire extent of the wreck area, covering two distinct finds collection sites separated by 200 meters (Areas ‘A’ and ‘B’). The objective was to locate, identify and document in detail remains of utilitarian ceramics and vessels that were used for transport or storage. Selected representative samples were retrieved for further study. The use of newly acquired mixed-gas and closed-circuit diving devices has greatly contributed to the efficiency and safety of diving procedures.
![Antikythera shipwreck: a significant part of the ship's hull was found 3 Kuthira 1](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kuthira-1.jpg)
A new limited intervention underwater excavation method was applied, which produces the maximum possible results. Selected zones of 2×2m area were excavated. and all the extracted sediments were collected, which were preliminarily studied in a special microgeoarchaeological laboratory installed in the field, thus allowing precise stratigraphic observations, and highlighting the complexity of the site and the different formation processes of the archaeological site between Areas “A” and B”. Furthermore, the analysis of the phytoliths and the identification of various resins and caulking materials provided crucial new information about the ship and its cargo, while the detailed analysis of the ceramics contributed to a more complete understanding of the wreck’s dispersal picture. Finally, the research team had at its disposal the results of laboratory analyzes obtained after the conclusion of the 2023 excavation period, such as bone and lead residues, which contributed to the detailed guidance of the new excavation practices.
Improved results
Ongoing and new excavations opened in both areas (“A” and “B”) have yielded rich archaeological material: around 300 objects or groups of objects, including 21 marble fragments (18 from marble statues), numerous fragments and other structural elements of the ship. hull and more than 200 ceramic fragments. Several geoarchaeological samples were also extracted.
![Antikythera shipwreck: a significant part of the ship's hull was found 4 Kuthira 3](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kuthira-3.jpg)
The recently discovered part of the ship’s hull
The most important discovery of 2024 is a structural part of the ship’s hull that brings together important shipbuilding features about which until now there were only hypotheses. More specifically, a section of the ship’s reefs was found, including a small number of connected wooden planks forming the outer shell (petchoma) with transverse reinforcements (nomes) fixed in their original position, which are connected in a manner indicative of the “shell first” construction methodology, with the original connectors (copper pins) and the protective outer lead sheathing preserved in excellent condition. Thanks to this discovery, the exact location on the seabed and orientation of the ancient ship are now known. Through the ongoing comparative study of data, the question arises as to whether more than one ship sank during the same event at Antikythera. It is hoped that the newly recovered shipbuilding data and the extensive laboratory analyses planned for the recovered hull samples will shed additional light on details such as the types of wood chosen to build various parts of the ship, its age and possibly its provenance.
![Antikythera shipwreck: a significant part of the ship's hull was found 5 Kuthira 4](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kuthira-4.jpg)
Site of the second wreck
A second area of interest (Area ‘B’) is also being investigated due to the concentration of pottery very similar to that recovered over the years at the main wreck site (Area ‘A’). Excavation efforts during this period have brought to light new evidence confirming the presence of the remains of a wooden ship, which were found beneath the crushed cargo it was carrying. These findings have been documented and recovered for further analysis in an effort to better understand the relationship between Areas ‘A’ and ‘B’. Seabed surface details have been digitally recorded using modern methods, expanding and enriching the available 3D models from earlier periods.
![Antikythera shipwreck: a significant part of the ship's hull was found 6 Kuthira 7](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kuthira-7.jpg)
Marble and ceramics
The marble fragments found and recovered show the concentration of sculptural works of art, mainly in the upper part of Area “A” (except for a finger found at greater depth): two fragments of marble heads of the same type as those recovered in previous periods, several fingers from at least two upper extremities, two lower extremities, a part of the palm and fragments of clothing. Due to the differences found in the quality of the fragments and their anatomical relevance, it can be concluded that they are parts of different statues.
As regards the ceramic finds, in addition to the fragments found during the excavation that were raised, emphasis was placed on the detailed identification of the typology of the commercial amphorae. In previous excavations on the wreck, five different types were already recorded: Koos, Rhodian, Pseudokoos, semi-amphorae, Ephesian/Nikandros Group and Lamboglia 2.
The results of the 2024 field survey confirm the abundance of Coan amphorae at the wreck site, as well as the existence of amphorae from Rhodes and Ephesus. The Lamboglia 2 amphorae, however, turned out to be much more numerous than expected and are typologically divided into three subcategories. Although known types are found in Areas A and B, investigation of Area B revealed the presence of hitherto unattested types in Area A: amphorae from Chios and a Rhodes amphora with twisted handles.
Thanks to the field microgeoarchaeology laboratory, the visual and microscopic analysis of the ceramic bodies of the amphorae was complemented by the analysis of their components. It was also found that the dark residue found inside some amphorae was based on mastic, which served as a coating to seal vessels.
Other ceramic vessels discovered this year include a lagynus and a two-handled skyphos (diotos), already recorded in previous excavations, as well as previously unconfirmed tableware forms found in Area ‘B’.
![Antikythera shipwreck: a significant part of the ship's hull was found 7 Kuthira 6](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kuthira-6.jpg)
Partners and sponsors
The “Return to Antikythera” research program is under the auspices of the SA of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
The main sponsors of the research program are the Swiss watchmaker Hublot (official diving watch, scientific and technical support), the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation (technical and in-kind support, academic partner in Greece) and the Nereus Research Foundation. Telecommunications services are provided by COSMOTE, which covers the wreck excavation area and the island with 5G and fiber optic networks.
The research team is especially grateful to the Ministry of Culture, its services and personally to the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, for their continued and substantial support of the research program. He also thanks the Mayor of Kythera and Antikythera, Efstratios Charchalakis, and the few remaining residents of Antikythera for their support and warm hospitality.
The missionary team
The activities were supervised by diving architect Aikaterini Tagonidou and technician Athina Patsourou of the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture.
The field research involved Alexandros Sotiriou, associate researcher and seabed technician at the University of Geneva, and a team of diving archaeologists consisting of Michelle Creisher (University of Haifa), Isaac Ogloblin (University of Haifa) and Orestis Manusos, and the specialist divers Nikolaos Giannoulaki, Styliano Matsukatidis, Haris Mitrou and Dimitris Stamoulis. The team was completed with the participation of six members of the Coast Guard Underwater Missions Unit (Special Diving Team), made up of Dimitrios Hatziaslan, Achillea Ganela, Athanasios Keitzi, Dimitrios Kiosi, Dimitrios Kremmidas and Georgios Lytrivi.
The documentation of the archaeological finds, the creation of the 3D models and the updating of the GIS were carried out by Patrizia Birchler Emery (University of Geneva), Orestis Manousso and Timothy Pönitz (University of Geneva), while the field workshop was organized by Isaac Ogloblin, with the support of Yiannis Bitsakis (University of Geneva and Nereus Research Foundation) and in collaboration with the University of Ioannina (Professors Ioannis Deligiannakis and Maria Louloudi). Geologist Yiannis Basiakos (National Center for Scientific Research “Democritos”) visited the team in Antikythera to examine scientific questions related to the wreck site.
Technical support (audiovisual documentation and ROVs) was provided by Hublot Xplorations team members Mathias Buttet, Aloïs Aebischer and Guillaume Champain.
Connections
Swiss Archaeological School in Greece: https://www.esag.swiss/en
Return to Antikythera Program: https://antikythera.org.gr/
Antikythera Programs on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/antikythera2012
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Diligence:George Koulouvaris
(email protected)