Decades of research unveil 10 ancient shipwrecks around Kasos Island

Over four years of meticulous research, an international team from the National Foundation for Research of Greece and the Greek Ministry of Culture has uncovered ten ancient shipwrecks around Kasos Island in the Aegean Sea, with the oldest estimated to be around five thousand years old.

The findings span a wide range of historical periods, from classical Greece circa 460 B.C. through the Hellenistic era between 100 B.C. and 100 A.D., extending to the Byzantine epoch around 800-900 A.D. Additionally, vessels from the Roman era, the Middle Ages, and the time of the Ottoman Empire have been identified. According to Heritage Daily, the most ancient of these wrecks dates back to 3000 B.C., positioning it in the prehistoric period.

In a fascinating extension of their discoveries, the Greek scientific team has also identified a World War II wooden ship exceeding 98 feet in length, as reported recently by CBS News.

The discoveries, however, extend beyond the shipwrecks themselves. In close proximity to these sites, the researchers have unearthed a plethora of unique artifacts from Spain, Italy, Africa, and Asia Minor. Among these artifacts is a Spanish amphora bearing a seal on its handle, dating back to 170-150 B.C., terra sigillata pottery from Africa—known for its high-quality redbrown finish—and a stone anchor from the archaic period of Greece.

All of these maritime artifacts and shipwrecks were located at depths ranging from approximately 66 to 154 feet below sea level. The research, conducted from 2019 to 2023, led to the accumulation of over twenty thousand underwater photographs. For the first time, a sonar-generated map of the Kasos-Karpathos reef has been created, marking a significant advancement in underwater archaeology.

Source: Heritage Daily, CBS News, The Irish Sun