A Greek spearfisherman discovered a 2,400-year-old shipwreck off the island of Andros in 2018, and archaeologists confir...

A Greek spearfisherman discovered a 2,400-year-old shipwreck off the island of Andros in 2018, and archaeologists confirmed this summer it is one of the most significant underwater finds in recent Greek history. Dimosthenis Adamis, a spearfishing instructor with 30 years of diving experience, spotted what looked like a rock formation at a depth of roughly 42 to 44 meters. When he realized the shapes were actually ancient amphoras stacked in the hull pattern of a sunken cargo ship, he says it was the most important moment of his entire career at sea. The wooden hull itself disintegrated long ago, but the cargo stayed exactly where it was loaded. According to Greece's Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the seabed around the wreck holds an estimated 600 to 650 pointed-bottom commercial amphoras, along with part of a lead anchor stock and stones that may have served as ship ballast. The amphoras date to the late 5th and early 4th century BC, placing the wreck in the late Classical period of ancient Greece. At least three distinct amphora types were identified, including varieties traced to Mende and Peparethos. Archaeologists recovered one of each type during their initial inspection this summer for study and documentation. Adamis reported the wreck to authorities in 2021 and returned to the site this summer to guide the archaeological team directly to it. He described the experience of first seeing it as producing a genuine shiver, adding that the outline of the ship is still visible from the surface through the arrangement of the cargo alone. The find has drawn comparisons to the famous Peristera shipwreck near Alonissos, with Adamis suggesting the two vessels may have traveled the same ancient trade route. Greece's Ministry of Culture says further research is expected to reveal more about the ship's origin and what sank it. Whether it was a storm or another cause remains unknown. #Greece #Archaeology #AncientGreece