Gaby
An international team of underwater archaeologists uncovered the remains of port infrastructure in a submerged area near the ancient Greek city of Asini, close to the village of Tolo in Argolis prefecture.
This research is part of a large-scale underwater archaeological mission that began in 2022, involving the Greek Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the Swedish Institute in Athens, Stockholm University, the University of Gothenburg, and the Nordic Maritime Group. The project is led by Greek archaeologist Panagiota Galiatsatou, together with Swedish experts Professor Ann-Louise Shalin and Dr. Niklas Eriksson, and the team meticulously surveyed a key area of the submerged harbor.
The fieldwork focused on the northwestern edge of the submerged artificial platform, previously identified as preserving most of its original form. Using high-resolution photogrammetry, the archaeologists thoroughly documented a 16-square-meter area, revealing the ruins of ancient port infrastructure. The team found numerous stones and fragments of building materials, which indicate gradual deterioration of the structures.
Among the most intriguing finds were ceramic fragments, including ostraca — pottery shards — and amphora fragments embedded in stone constructions, as well as a broken vessel recovered from an area designated as “Sector 4A.” These artifacts should help scholars date the submerged port.
What Else Did the Researchers Report?
The city of Asini has a long history of human habitation that dates back to prehistoric times. That long sequence of occupation makes it difficult to pinpoint when the discovered port was originally constructed, Arkeonews reports.
The new findings support the idea that this infrastructure was vital for maritime trade across multiple historical periods. The port appears to have covered a significant area, with a main structure made up of a large artificial platform in shallow water and multifunctional buildings that served purposes beyond simple trade.
Looking ahead, the archaeological team plans to conduct further excavations on the upper part of the artificial platform. The next phase will involve carefully removing sediment, both manually and through controlled extraction, to expose more structures currently hidden beneath the surface. All findings will be documented on-site using advanced 3D visualization methods to create high-precision models for further analysis of the artifacts.
The discoveries at Asini offer new insight into ancient maritime trade and the construction of port facilities, expanding our understanding of how ancient communities interacted with their marine environment.
As the research continues, scientists expect to learn more about the complexity of ancient trade networks and the architectural ingenuity of Mediterranean settlements.
The findings from the excavations will be published in the journal Opuscula.
