Diving Mediterranean Sea, Scuba News, Underwater Archeology, Wrecks

Ancient wreck found off the coast of Cyprus

Listen to this article Scientists conducting research in the waters surrounding Cyprus have come across an ancient wreck dating back to Roman times. The find is believed to be the first well-preserved discovery of its kind in the eastern Mediterranean. A shipwreck and its cargo have been discovered by divers near Protaras in the eastern

ByTomasz Andrukajtis

Published: June 28, 2019 - 09:27

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 18:21

Ancient wreck found off the coast of Cyprus

Listen to this article

Scientists conducting research in the waters surrounding Cyprus have come across an ancient wreck dating back to Roman times. The find is believed to be the first well-preserved discovery of its kind in the eastern Mediterranean.

A shipwreck and its cargo have been discovered by divers near Protaras in the eastern part of Cyprus and are now being investigated by underwater archaeologists. Interestingly, the remains of the vessel and its unusual cargo are located right next to a popular tourist resort. It is therefore surprising that they have gone unnoticed for so long.

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From the information made available by the researchers, we know that the ship was carrying amphorae, which were loaded on board most likely in Syria and Cilicia, regions located today in southern Turkey. The contents of the vessels are currently unknown.

[blockquote style=”2″]”This is the first intact Roman wreck ever discovered on Cypriot territory. Its study will shed new light on the extent and scale of maritime trade between Cyprus and the rest of the Roman provinces in the eastern Mediterranean,” a statement issued by the Cyprus Antiquities Department [/blockquote] stressed.

Source: reuters.com

About author

Tomasz Andrukajtis

Editor-in-chief of the DIVERS24 portal and magazine. Responsible for obtaining, translating and developing content. He also supervises all publications. Achived his first diving certification – P1 CMAS, in 2000. Has a degree in journalism and social communication. In the diving industry since 2008.