New Shipwrecks and Ancient Port Revealed Off Greece’s Karpathos

Greece maps the submerged taste practice of the Aegean. Credit: Ministry of Culture

The Greek Ministry of Culture announced connected Tuesday a bid of underwater discoveries successful the seas surrounding Karpathos, successful the south-east Aegean.

Conducted successful October 2025, this systematic ngo is portion of an ongoing strategical programme launched successful 2019 to representation the submerged taste practice of the Aegean.

During this archetypal systematic underwater survey of the island, an planetary squad of researchers dove into the waters of Vrykous and Nisyros. These sites correspond 2 of the 4 past cities that erstwhile formed the famed “Karpathos Tetrapolis” (as documented by Strabo successful Geographica).

Unearthing 26 centuries of past astatine Karpathos

An amphora recovered from the seabed disconnected Karpathos. Credit: Ministry of Culture

With implicit 120 dives reaching depths of up to 45 meters astir Northern Karpathos and the islet of Saria, the squad documented taste remains spanning much than 2,600 years. The findings agelong from the Archaic play (late 7th period BC) to the mid-19th period AD.

Key discoveries include:

• Five Shipwrecks: Four past vessels and 1 from the modern era.
• Ancient Port Infrastructure: Submerged ruins that redefine our knowing of determination trade.
• Maritime Cargo: A immense array of commercialized transport jars (amphorae).
• Byzantine Anchors: More than 20 anchors were identified adjacent Tristomo. When combined with adjacent ecclesiastical and residential ruins, these findings item the area’s strategical value during Late Antiquity.

A planetary technological collaboration

The ngo brought unneurotic much than forty specialists from astir the world, including a dedicated squad from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and experts from the Norwegian Maritime Museum (NMM).

In tandem with the excavations, the squad completed an innovative aviator programme titled “Protecting Underwater Cultural Heritage from the Effects of Climate Change.” Supported by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, this task focused connected the underwater “in-situ” conservation of humanities artifacts successful the seas of Kasos (south of Karpathos), ensuring that these treasures stay preserved contempt shifting biology conditions.

Related: Amphora Found by Fisherman successful Greek Waters Points to Ancient Shipwreck