All articles tagged with #underwater archaeology
PHAROS project divers have recovered 22 blocks weighing 70–80 tons from the Mediterranean off Alexandria, likely forming the lighthouse’s monumental entrance; each piece is digitized with photogrammetry to enable a virtual reconstruction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built in the 3rd century BCE on Pharos and once over 100 meters tall before earthquakes and later reuse of stones in the Qaitbay Citadel.
A 150-by-40-by-27-meter stone formation off Yonaguni Island, discovered in 1986, has sparked a decades-long dispute between researchers who view it as a natural sandstone feature shaped by earthquakes and erosion and Masaaki Kimura’s claim that it could be a deliberate 10,000-year-old human construction with roads and terraces, though no artifacts have been found. The site lies in a seismically active region and, despite extensive exploration, lacks conclusive evidence of civilization, leaving the mystery unresolved and fueling ongoing debates in archaeology.
Archaeologists report 9,000-year-old stone hunting structures buried under Lake Huron on the Alpena-Amberley Ridge, the earliest evidence of human activity at the bottom of the Great Lakes; about 80 locations with drive lanes, hunting pits, and stone caches reveal a coordinated caribou-hunting system, preserved by the lake’s clear, sediment-free waters, with ongoing work to map and expand sites.
The 217-foot luxury steamer Lac La Belle, which sank in a 1872 Lake Michigan gale off the Wisconsin coast, was found in October 2022 after a nearly six-decade search led by Paul Ehorn and Shipwreck World. The wreck, now mussel-covered with an intact hull and oak interiors, lie about 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha; eight people died when lifeboats capsized or failed, and the discovery highlights ongoing exploration of thousands of Great Lakes wrecks.
After nearly six decades of searching, Paul Ehorn and Shipwreck World located Lac La Belle, the 1872 passenger steamer sunk in Lake Michigan, about 20 miles off Racine and Kenosha. The discovery, made in October 2022 and announced after a 3D video model was prepared, shows a hull largely intact though encrusted with mussels, and recalls eight deaths when lifeboats capsized during the sinking. This is Ehorn’s 15th shipwreck discovery, and he plans to present findings at the 2026 Ghost Ships Festival.
Searchers led by Paul Ehorn of Shipwreck World located the 217-foot luxury steamer Lac La Belle off Wisconsin, completing a roughly six-decade quest. Built in 1864, it sank in October 1872 after a gale while sailing from Milwaukee to Grand Haven; the wreck lies about 20 miles offshore between Racine and Kenosha, remains largely intact with the hull preserved and the exterior mussel-covered. Discovered in 2022 and announced in 2026 with a 3D model, it marks Ehorn’s 15th shipwreck find as investigators press on for the next discovery.
A shipwreck hunter has located the remains of a 19th-century steamship in Lake Michigan, adding a new chapter to Great Lakes maritime history; the AP piece references a historic 1866 photo of the Lac La Belle docked in Marquette for context.
Divers in Antalya, Turkey, discovered a 2,000-year-old shipwreck containing well-preserved Eastern Sigillata A ceramic tableware, providing valuable insights into ancient trade, daily life, and ship cargo practices during the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period. The cargo's standardized forms and preservation offer detailed data for archaeological research and museum displays, highlighting the significance of maritime heritage in the eastern Mediterranean.
Archaeologists have discovered a sunken ancient Egyptian port near Taposiris Magna, which may be connected to Cleopatra's tomb, a long-standing mystery. The site includes submerged shoreline, tunnels, and artifacts dating to the Ptolemaic period, supporting the theory that Cleopatra's final resting place might be there, rather than in Alexandria's Royal Quarters.
Archaeologists have discovered a submerged ancient port near Taposiris Magna in Egypt, which may be linked to Cleopatra's final resting place, supporting theories that her tomb is located nearby. The site includes structures from Cleopatra's era and is part of ongoing efforts to locate her tomb, with findings featured in a National Geographic special.
Researchers have discovered the nearly 140-year-old shipwreck of the F.J. King in Lake Michigan, a vessel that had eluded search efforts for decades, using historical records and modern sonar technology, revealing a remarkably intact hull and shedding light on Great Lakes maritime history.
Divers have for the first time recovered artifacts from the Britannic, Titanic's sister ship, which sank in 1916 after hitting a mine during World War I, including the ship’s bell and navigation light, and these items will be displayed in a new underwater antiquities museum in Greece.
Greece has recovered artefacts from the wreck of HMHS Britannic, Titanic's sister ship, sunk in 1916 during WWI, including a lookout bell and navigation equipment, which will be displayed at the National Museum of Underwater Antiquities.
Egyptian authorities recovered artifacts from a sunken city off Alexandria, believed to be part of the ancient seaport Canopus, dating back over 2,000 years. The relics include statues, building remnants, and a merchant ship, and will be displayed in an exhibition at the Alexandria National Museum. Rising sea levels threaten Alexandria's historic sites, with significant portions expected to be submerged by 2050.
Over 30 shipwrecks, including WWII-era vessels and a well-preserved cargo sailing ship, have been discovered in Lake Constance, Germany, during a project that used sonar and ROVs to explore the lake's depths, revealing significant historical and cultural artifacts.