Artical From Cyprus Weekly :
"spotted the sunken vessel in the Mazotos- Maroni"
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Artical From Cyprus Weekly : "spotted the sunken vessel in the Mazotos- Maroni" |
The Department of Antiquities will undertake a scientific survey of a newly-discovered ancient wreck in Cyprus territorial waters early in the next year, Antiquities Director Pavlos Flourentzos has said. Two amateur divers claim to be the first to have spotted the sunken vessel in the Mazotos- Maroni area about 3km off the island's south coast and reported it to the authorities about two months ago. But Flourentos said that information about the existence of a wreck in that area was known to the Department of Antiquities for years, while they learnt of the exact location only a few months ago. The discovery has evoked memories of the famous 3rd century BC Kyrenia wreck, found by local sponge diver Andreas Kariolou off the northern coast in 1965 and later raised by American archaeologist Michael Katzev. It is considered to be the oldest preserved boat in the world. |
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Investigation
Following wide media coverage of the recent discovery, the Depart ment of Antiquities has sent a diver archaeologist down for a preliminary investigation. According to Flourentzos, the Mazotos wreck belongs to the Hellenistic Period at the time of Alexander the Great, as
did the Kyrenia wreck, and carried the same cargo of Rhodian amphoras.
Judging by the volume of the cargo, the hull of the new wreck lying under the seabed about 40m below the surface could be slightly bigger than that of the Kyrenia boat, which measured 47 feet long and 14.5 feet across.
Flourentzos said that plans have already been drawn up in close cooperation with and the financial assistance of the Cyprus Tourist Organisation for afull survey of the wreck. When this is completed, the wreck will be officially declared an ancient monument.
A proper scientific investigation would get under way in the immediate future, starting with scale photography by the end of January, Flourentzos said.
The development has rekindled interest in the protection of Cyprus ' marine archaeology, rendered more exposed to looting on account of new technological means and methods of locating and retrieving sunken antiquities.
Many other wrecks of lesser importance and isolated objects have been located all over the island's coasts, while the authorities and the Department of Antiquities in particular lack the ability to investigate and protect them.
Rekindled
Flourentzos said they were working on that, while the coast guard has been charged with policing the wreck site. He told The Cyprus Weekly that they were in the process of putting together a marine archaeology team in the Antiquity Department. An underwater archaeologist has already been hired and they were looking for another, he said. The Department was also out to obtain the necessary technological and other equipment for submarine operations.
In addition he noted that they would seek to bring changes to the antiquities law so as to make it more effective for the protection of marine archaeology.
Asked if they were making any plans to bring the new wreck to the surface and preserve it as had happened with the Kyrenia wreck, Flourentzos said that they were considering many options.
Above: THE KYRENIA CARGO: This is the underwater sight that led a Cypriot sponge diver to discover the Kyrenia wreck in 1965.