Deep-water archaeological discoveries on Eratosthenes Seamount

A team of earth scientists conducted a series of exploratory transects across the summit of Eratosthenes Seamount in 2010 and 2012 to better understand the geologic structure of this unique flat-topped feature in the East Mediterranean Sea. The team encountered 219 isolated amphorae and 3 shipwrecks using remotely operated vehicles equiped with both acoustic and optical image systems. The researchers could instantaneously communicate with archaeologists on shore by utilizing a high bandwidth satellite system on the E/V Nautilus. This system allowed researchers and archaeologists to better take advantage of this series of discoveries. The data collected during these field seasons, presented and discussed in this article, contributes to existing literature on the maritime traffic patterns of the ancient Eastern Mediterranean, and of open-sea travel over the underwater plateau from 800 BC-800 CE.