Divers have discovered a shipwreck off the Greek island of Andros, in the Cyclades, that is approximately 2,400 years old and laden with hundreds of ancient amphorae. The find was announced this summer by Greece's Ministry of Culture.
According to the ministry's translated press release, a "private individual" alerted officials to the wreck's location. The ancient vessel was found at a depth of between 128 and 144 feet underwater. Its cargo consists of an estimated 600 to 650 "pointed-bottom commercial amphorae," which are ceramic storage jars commonly used in antiquity for transporting goods like wine, olive oil, and grains.
Underwater images reveal the artifacts covered in marine growth and spread across the seafloor. Officials have not specified the contents of the amphorae, which date to the late fifth and early fourth centuries B.C. Archaeologists have identified three distinct types among the jars: Mende, Peparethos, and Solokha 2.
In addition to the amphorae, the divers also located a portion of a lead anchor stock and several stones likely used as ballast to stabilize the ship. The discovery is expected to enhance understanding of trade and navigation practices during the Late Classical period. One amphora of each identified type was recovered for sampling and further study, with additional research anticipated to yield more information about the ship's cargo and origin.
The Mediterranean Sea has historically served as a crucial hub for maritime trade, and it is known to harbor numerous shipwrecks and archaeological sites. This discovery follows other recent findings, including gold jewelry from a roughly 1,300-year-old shipwreck off Croatia announced earlier this summer, and hundreds of well-preserved ceramics found on a nearly 2,000-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Turkey last year.