SAEDNEWS: Archaeologists have discovered ancient port remains at Asini, Greece, offering new insights into Mediterranean maritime trade.
According to SAEDNEWS, A global group of underwater archaeologists has uncovered remarkable evidence of an ancient port at the submerged location of Asini, close to Tolo in Argolis, Greece, revealing substantial remnants of port infrastructure that could revolutionize our comprehension of the Mediterranean’s maritime past.
A groundbreaking underwater archaeological project, launched in 2022, has been uncovering remarkable findings at the submerged site of Asini, located near Tolo in Argolis, Greece. This research, a joint effort between several institutions, including the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of Greece, the Swedish Institute in Athens, and universities such as Stockholm University and the University of Gothenburg, is being led by Dr. Panagiota Galiatsatou from Greece and Swedish experts Prof. Ann-Louise Schallin and Dr. Niklas Eriksson. The team has focused on an important part of the submerged harbor in their quest to unravel its secrets.
In 2024, their fieldwork concentrated on the northwestern edge of a submerged artificial platform, where much of the structure has remarkably remained intact. Using advanced photogrammetry techniques, the researchers were able to precisely capture a 16-square-meter section of the area. This detailed survey revealed crucial evidence of the port’s infrastructure, including numerous stones and remnants of construction materials, indicating that the structure likely collapsed over time.
Among the most significant discoveries were ceramic fragments, including ostraca from amphorae, embedded in the stone remnants, as well as a broken vessel found in the "Sector 4A" region. These pieces are expected to assist in narrowing down the date when the platform was in use or perhaps when it was eventually abandoned.
Asini’s long history of settlement, stretching back to prehistory, complicates the determination of the port's construction date. Nevertheless, these new findings bolster the theory that the port played a central role in maritime trade across multiple historical periods. Previous excavations from 2021 and 2022 had already revealed that the port was much larger than initially thought, consisting of a significant artificial platform in shallow waters, with evidence of buildings or rooms suggesting its use for purposes beyond just commerce.
Looking ahead, the team plans to extend their excavations to the upper part of the artificial platform. This phase will include the removal of sediment, both manually and through controlled dredging, to uncover more of the site’s structural elements.
The results from the 2024 campaign are expected to be published in Opuscula, a journal edited by the Swedish Institutes of Athens and Rome, as well as other journals focused on maritime archaeology. The findings from Asini are poised to offer vital insights into ancient port construction and maritime trade, advancing our understanding of the ways ancient civilizations utilized their maritime resources.
As the project continues, the site is likely to yield further discoveries, shedding light on the complexities of ancient trade networks and the architectural marvels of past cultures. These findings underline the enduring significance of Asini’s submerged port in the broader context of Mediterranean history.
