SPPO: Discovery of shipwrecks and prehistoric finds during underwater archaeological research in Kasos

New discoveries and prehistoric finds were found at the bottom of the sea in the underwater archaeological research, as announced by the Ministry of Culture. Ten shipwrecks, as well as significant individual findings, which date back to the prehistory (3000 BC), the Classical period (460 BC), the Hellenistic (100 BC to 100 AD) and Roman times (200 BC – 300 AD), the Byzantine period (800 – 900 AD), up to and including findings from the medieval and Ottoman period, were discovered during the perennial underwater archaeological research in the marine region of Kasos, according to . Since 2019, the research team of the National Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry carried out four research missions in areas of special interest, using archaeological and historical evidence, sources, testimonies and references to the island of Kasos, from Iliad of Omir until the newer years. The investigation was completed late October 2023. The findings were recorded and documented with modern scientific methods, while sampling of archaeological objects was carried out, the study of which offers new information and archaeological data, aspects of the history of Kasos and the rich cultural heritage of the Mediterranean. Sink residues of ancient ships with goods from Spain, Italy, Africa and the coasts of Asia Minor came to light from an interdisciplinary group of Greek and foreign researchers and professors, diving archaeologists, historians, architects, surveyors, conservationists, geologists, biologists, craftsmen, graduate students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and other experts. As complements the Ministry’s announcement, the thorough study of material at depths from -20m to -47m brought to light unique findings, including: Spanish amphora type Dressel 20 with a seal on its handle dating between 150-1970 AD, pots of pots, terra sigilata-type bottles, belonging to the Roman era of African origin, stone anchor of the Archaic period, as well as other important archaeological evidence. At the same time, the mapping and deepening of the Kasos-Karpathos reef and the Carpatholimnio region were first carried out, using a side scanning sounding machine. Finally, the wreck remains of the newer period were identified, probably of the World War II era. It is a wooden vessel with metal elements, the size of which is estimated at 25m-30m. It is worth mentioning that underwater research in Kasos was the subject of an original film production by AORI FILMS entitled “Diving in the History of the Aegean”, available in Greek and English at https://kasosproject.com/. The film has already been selected for participation in the competition department of top international archaeological film festivals, including The Archaeology Channel International Film Festival in America and Firenze Archeofilm Festival in Europe. The evaluation of the overall research, enriched with original studies by historians, archaeologists, conservationists and other scientists will be the subject of a foreign language collective volume scheduled to be published in late 2024 by the National Research Foundation. In June 2024, the expansion of research in the marine region of Karpathos, which is a single geographical set with Casso, is planned, among other things, the Ministry of Culture.