New finds from a Greek ship that sank nearly 2,100 years ago indicate that much of the vessel and its luxury cargo have been preserved. Divers and archaeologists wearing special suits that enable flexible movement during several consecutive hours of deep-sea exploration made the discoveries this month.
Items recovered at the 180-foot-deep wreck site off the Greek island of Antikythera, announced on Oct. 9 by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, include table wear, a ceramic jug, a bronze spear probably from a warrior or goddess statue, a bronze rigging ring, lead anchors and hull planks.
The vessel was about 165 feet, making it the largest known ancient shipwreck, says Woods Hole underwater archaeologist and team member Brendan Foley.
Hundreds of passengers went down with the ship, Foley suspects. “It was the Titanic of the ancient world.”
