Despite its potential international importance, no work has been carried out at the site since it was first mapped in 1968. Underwater archaeologist, Dr Jon Henderson from the University of Nottingham, will be the first archaeologist to have official access to the site in 40 years. After obtaining special permission from the Greek government to examine the submerged town.

The Pavlopetri site offers major new insights into the workings of Mycenaean society, thought to once have been a thriving harbor town where trade was conducted throughout the Mediter-ranean Sea — its sandy and well-protected bay would have been ideal for beaching Bronze Age ships.

Dr Henderson will try to uncover the history and development of Pavlopetri, finding more about how and when it was occupied and establish why the town disappeared under the sea.

The survey, made in collaboration with Elias Spondylis of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, will be carried out using equipment originally developed for the military and offshore oilfield market but adapted to record underwater archaeological imaging.

The equipment can produce photo-realistic, three-dimensional digital surveys of seabed features and accurate underwater structures.

Dr Henderson said: “This site is of rare international archaeological importance. It is imperative that the fragile remains of this town are accurately recorded and preserved before they are lost forever.”