A trove of new artefacts have been recovered from the Roman-era wreck that yielded the mysterious Antikythera Mechanism, including an arm made of bronze and a strange metal disc. But most intriguing of all, the latest survey suggests that seven bronze statues are still waiting to be discovered.
A sediment-encrusted bronze arm recovered from the Antikythera wreck. (Brett Seymour/EUA/ARGO 2017)
The Antikythera shipwreck is the gift that keeps on giving.
The latest expedition, led by the Greek Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, Lund University, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, was conducted between September 4 to 20, and as per previous trips to the wreck, the team did not leave disappointed. With excellent weather conditions above them, the divers managed to recover an “orphaned” right arm of a bronze statue, pottery shards, nails, lead sheathing fragments, and an odd metal disc, among other artefacts.
Excitingly, scans with a metal detector indicated the presence of at least seven undiscovered and priceless bronze statues buried near the sunken ship, which sank off the Greek island of Antikythera in 1 BC. The doomed vessel was filled with art pieces and luxury items, including the Antikythera Mechanism — a geared device used to predict astronomical events such as eclipses and the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets. The 15m-long Roman-era ship sunk near the tiny island between Crete and Peloponnese.
Prior to this latest expedition, the Return to Antikythera project team managed to recover glassware, luxury ceramics, anchors, counterweights, tools and even an ancient skeleton (which is currently being analysed for DNA). During the recently concluded trip to the wreck, divers investigated areas where fragments of marble and bronze statues had been found before, and which were located near and underneath large stone boulders. Regrettably, the wreck happens to be located on a slope, and over the years, a succession of earthquakes has delivered numerous rocks and boulders to the site.
One of the more interesting items pulled from the wreck is a sediment-encrusted metal disc measuring about 8cm across, and with four metal arms with holes for pins.
The strange metal disc pulled from the wreck. (Image: Brett Seymour/EUA/ARGO 2017)
At first glance, the archaeologists thought it might be related to the Antikythera Mechanism, specifically a missing gear that was likely used to calculate the positions of the planets. But after performing an X-ray analysis of the disc, the researchers realised it wasn’t a gear at all, but some kind of decorative object adorned with the image of a bull. They suspect it was attached to the shield of a statue, or even to the ship itself.
Left: An X-ray scan of the disc revealed the impression of a bull (Image: EUA). Right: Artist’s impression of the disc. (Alexander Tourtas)
The researchers also found part of a bronze robe or toga, fragments of the ship-shell (namely bits of the skeletal frame and planking), and a bare leg attached to a base that was lodged underneath a boulder. The discovery of the bronze arm, plus the metal detector findings, boosts the number of bronze statues suspected to reside at the site.
The divers excavated occasionally by hand-fanning the sediments, with bright lights illuminating the scene. (Image: Brett Seymour EUA / Lund University / ARGO NGO)
“What we’re finding is these sculptures are in among and under the boulders,” explained team member Brendan Foley to The Guardian. “We think it means a minimum of seven, and potentially nine, bronze sculptures still waiting for us down there.”
Bronze statues are exceptionally rare, with only about 50 known to reside from this period. During both the classical and medieval eras, bronze recycling was an important industry — one that resulted in the destruction of countless statues and other artefacts that would, by today’s standards, be priceless. Ironically, some of the finest bronze relics from this era were recovered from shipwrecks.
Once these suspected bronze statues are located, a truly herculean effort will be required to pull them out. The archaeologists have several options, including hauling the rocks up or fracturing them into smaller pieces. Regardless, it will be a slow, costly and tedious process. The next expedition is planned for the autumn of 2018, at which time the archaeologists plan to explore the hold of the sunken ship.
Which, whoa.