Underwater research in Alonissos, Kyra Panagia and Peristera
In the fall of 2010, a team from the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, in collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, conducted an extensive underwater archaeological survey. The mission focused on areas around Alonissos, Kyra Panagia and Peristera, to identify and document ancient shipwrecks. An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with side-scan sonar and a high-resolution camera was used, which mapped eight square kilometres at depths of 40–85 meters, capturing three previously known shipwrecks.
Discovery of a mid-Byzantine shipwreck
During the visual survey, a new shipwreck from the Middle Byzantine period was identified. On the sloping rocky seabed, at depths of 17–42 meters, a cluster of broken amphorae was found. The shipwreck was documented using high-resolution digital photographs and stereoscopic photography, resulting in a detailed photomosaic.
Technological innovations and conservation control
The research team also visited well-known shipwrecks in the area to assess their state of preservation. At the same time, a new type of underwater thruster (Pegasus Thrusters), which is attached to diving tanks and allows for covering more than double the distance, significantly expands the research area.
