Advertisements
Bologna, Italy |  
Moscow |  
Chicago (Rosemont), Illinois, USA |  
New Jersey, USA |  
Guangzhou | China |  
Singapore |  
Long Beach, California, USA |  
Tacoma, Washington State, USA |  
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |  
Recommended reading
Andrea Ferrari and Antonella Ferrari
Creative Techniques and Camera Systems for Digital and Film
360 pages, 400 colour photos. Nautilus Publishing Sdn Bhd Distributed by NHBS Softcover | 2007 | £24.99 | approx. $50/€33 ISBN-13: 9789832731023

Pavlopetri, the lost Greek city, may have inspired Atlantis myth

Pavlopetri The world’s oldest submerged town is again under the scrutiny of a team of British and Greek archeologists, who are struggling to preserve it. The ancient town of Pavlopetri’s ruins, dating from around 2800 BC, still displays intact buildings, courtyards, streets, chamber tombs and some 37 cist graves, which are thought to belong to the Mycenaean period (c.1680-1180 BC). One of many of Greece’s golden past monuments, it would seem unremarkable.
Credit:   Photograph: Handout
The world’s oldest submerged town is again under the scrutiny of a team of British and Greek archeologists, who are struggling to preserve it.
 The fact that it actually lies in three to four meters of water just off the coast of southern Laconia in Greece sets this Bronze Age relic apart from the others. It also provides the historical setting for much Ancient Greek literature and myth, including Homer’s Age of Heroes.

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.â€

Advertisement
â–º

Spread the word...