An international group of underwater
They identified significant vestiges of the infrastructure of an ancient port, which promise to change our understanding of the maritime history of the Mediterranean.
This research is part of a broader underwater archaeological initiative, started in 2022, and is carried out in collaboration with the Eforate for underwater antiques in Greece, the Swedish Institute in Athens, Stockholm University, Göteborg University and Nordic Maritime Group. Under the leadership of the Greek archaeologist, Dr. Panagiota Galiatsatou, and with the participation of Swedish experts, Prof. Ann-Louise Schallin and Dr. Niklas Eriksson, the team meticulously examined a key area of the submerged port.
The excavations of 2024 focused on the northwestern edge of the submerged artificial platform, an area that was previously identified as keeping a large part of its original form. Using high resolution photogrammetry, archaeologists have documented in detail a 16 square meter site, discovering significant architectural vestiges that indicate the existence of an ancient port infrastructure. The discoveries include numerous stones and fragments of building materials, suggesting a gradual degradation over time.
Some of the most interesting discoveries include ceramic fragments, including amphorae-integrated ostracons in stone structures, as well as a broken vessel found in an area designated as “sector 4a”. It is expected that these artifacts will provide essential information about dating the submerged port, either associating them with the period when the platform was in use, or with the moment of abandonment.
Asini has a history of continuous housing since prehistoric times, which makes it difficult to determine the date of the artificial port construction. However, the new discoveries support the hypothesis that this infrastructure has been essential for maritime trade throughout several historical eras. The previous excavations, from 2021 and 2022, have already indicated the extended dimensions of the port, revealing that the main structure consists of a large artificial platform located in a little deep waters, with indications of the existence of rooms or buildings, suggesting multiple uses, beyond the simple trade.
Next, the team of archaeologists intends to carry out additional excavations at the top of the artificial platform. The next stage will include careful removal of sediments, both manually and through controlled excavations, to bring to light additional structural elements. All discoveries will be documented on the spot using advanced 3D viewing techniques, which will allow extremely accurate models, facilitating further analysis without disturbing the original context of artifacts.
The results of the excavations in 2024 are to be published in the OPTULA scientific journal, edited by the Swedish institutes in Athens and Rome, as well as in other specialized publications in the field of archeology and maritime research. The discoveries from Asini promise to provide valuable indications about ancient maritime trade and port construction, extending the understanding of how ancient civilizations interacted with their maritime environment.
As the research continues, the site in Asini could reveal new details about the complexity of the ancient commercial networks and the architectural ingenuity of the old civilizations, emphasizing the lasting importance of this port in the historical mosaic of the Mediterranean.
