In the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece, an ancient port of Asini was discovered

An important opening was made by an international team of underwater archaeologists in the sunken area of ​​Asini, located next to the Greek town of Tolo on the Peloponnes Peninsula.

Researchers discovered the remains of an ancient port and coastal infrastructure, tells The publication “Search”. They can radically change the ideas about the naval history of the Mediterranean region. Archaeological campaign is part of an extensive underwater research program, begun in 2022. It takes part in it:

• The ephoras of the underwater antiquities of Greece.
• The Swedish Institute in Athens.
• Stockholm and Gotborg Universities.
• Nordic Maritime Group.

Under the leadership of the Greek archaeologist, Dr. Panayota Galiatsat, together with Swedish experts by Professor Ann-Luisa Shallin and Dr. Niclas Ericksson, the team conducted a detailed study of the key zone of the immersed harbor.

In 2024, the work was concentrated on the northern edge of the artificial platform, which was previously noted as preserving most of its original appearance. With the use of high -precision photogrammetry, scientists scrupulously recorded a area of ​​16 square meters and revealed significant architectural fragments indicating an ancient berth infrastructure.

Among the finds are stones and fragments of building materials, which indicates the gradual destruction of structures over time. Ceramic fragments, including amphor ostracons built into stone bases, as well as a broken vessel found in the 4A sector, attracted special attention of the researchers. It is assumed that these artifacts will help scientists clarify the dating of the sunken port and can be associated with the period of its activity or the subsequent time.

Asini is known as a continuous habitat from prehistoric times, which complicates the exact determination of the time of building an artificial port. Nevertheless, discoveries confirm the hypothesis of the important role of this infrastructure in marine trade throughout various historical periods.

Excavations carried out in 2021 and 2022 have already shown the vastness of the port, indicating the presence of a large artificial platform with signs of buildings, which involves multifunctional use.

In the future, archaeologists are going to continue research on the upper part of the platform. The next stage includes accurate removal of deposits and the controlled excavation of soil to detect additional structural elements.

All finds will be fixed using modern 3D modeling methods, this will create accurate models for further analysis without violating the context of artifacts.

Studies of 2024 will be published in the OPUSCula scientific journal, edited by the Swedish institutions of Athens and Rome, and in other publications on archeology and marine research. The discoveries on the site of the sunken port promise to shed light on ancient trade and the construction of berths, expanding knowledge about the interaction of ancient civilizations with the sea.

Continuation of research in Asini can reveal new aspects of the complexity of retail chains and architectural creativity of the past, emphasizing the significance of this immersed port for the historical heritage of the Mediterranean.

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