2,000-Year-Old Shipwreck Yields 'Hidden Treasures' in New Expedition

A recent dive into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea has unveiled new "hidden treasures" from a 2,000-year-old shipwreck, captivating archaeologists with fresh insights into this ancient maritime mystery.

The expedition, focused on the famed Antikythera shipwreck in the Aegean Sea off Greece, was detailed in a press release published Monday by the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece (ESAG).

"This is without any doubt, a unique shipwreck from antiquity," University of Geneva professor Lorenz E. Baumer emphasized in an interview with Fox News Digital.

The sunken vessel, dating back to between 80 and 60 B.C., represents "the richest [ancient trade ship] ever discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean," according to Baumer. He believes it originated in the Eastern Mediterranean and was likely sailing towards Rome when it met its fate. "We can learn a lot from it about markets and sea cargoes during the 1st century B.C."

This recent dive uncovered a wealth of approximately 300 artifacts, including fragments of marble statues, hinting at a precious cargo lost to the sea. "The marble fragments discovered suggest the presence of several statues," stated the ESAG, "while analysis of the amphorae revealed an abundance of varied types, including amphorae from Chios and Rhodes."

Divers explore the Antikythera shipwreck, located in the Aegean Sea off Greece. (© ESAG / UNIGE)

Adding further intrigue, a second shipwreck was discovered roughly 650 feet from the Antikythera wreck. Researchers are currently investigating whether the two vessels were sailing in tandem.

The Antikythera shipwreck, first discovered in 1900, has captivated the world's imagination, most notably for yielding the Antikythera mechanism, an astonishingly complex mechanical calculator retrieved in 1901. This device stands as one of the oldest known computational devices in existence.

While previous research has focused primarily on the ship's artifacts, Baumer's team aims to understand the shipwreck and its wreckage holistically.

"We hope to use the wooden parts we found to determine exactly when and perhaps where the ship was built," Baumer explained. The depth of the wreck, between 45 to 70 meters below sea level, has been a key factor in its remarkable preservation.

Utilizing professional divers and cutting-edge underwater drones, the team has been able to gather unprecedented data about the vessel's structure.

"Until this year, very little of the ship itself was known, primarily from some planks that [Jacques-Yves] Cousteau retrieved," Baumer noted.

"This year, for the first time, we found a small but structural part of the hull that is providing important information about the ship's construction…[and] likely lying in its original position."

This finding could revolutionize our understanding of the shipwreck's final moments and its resting place on the seabed. "The research is opening up new questions to be investigated," Baumer concluded, reaffirming the enduring allure of the Antikythera shipwreck and its secrets.