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Antikythera Shipwreck Discovered in 1900 Revealed the Antikythera Mechanism and Dozens of Statues; in 2025, Archaeologists Recovered for the First Time a Fragment of the Hull of the Ancient Greek Ship.
In over 125 years of intermittent archaeological excavations, the Antikythera shipwreck has revealed some of the most extraordinary artifacts of maritime archaeology. From the depths of the Aegean Sea emerged bronze and marble statues, jewelry, navigational instruments, human remains, and the famous Antikythera Mechanism, considered by many researchers to be the first analog computer in history. In 2025, however, a groundbreaking discovery once again changed the understanding of the shipwreck. For the first time since the archaeological site was discovered, archaeologists managed to recover a fragment of the ship’s hull itself, allowing for direct study of how ancient Greeks built merchant vessels in the Mediterranean.
This discovery offers new clues about naval technology in Ancient Greece, trade routes in the Aegean Sea, and the very history of the ship that carried one of the most valuable cargoes ever found in an ancient shipwreck.
Antikythera Shipwreck Was Discovered by Sponge Fishers Fleeing a Storm in 1900
The story of the shipwreck began in the spring of 1900, when Dimitrios Kondos, captain of a sponge fishing boat from the Greek island of Symi, was sailing in the Aegean Sea towards North Africa. A storm forced the vessel to take shelter near the small island of Antikythera, located between Crete and the Peloponnese. While waiting for the sea to calm, one of the divers descended to about 45 meters deep to look for sponges. What he found seemed impossible.
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Scattered on the seabed were arms, legs, and torsos of marble and bronze statues. The diver described the scene as “a pile of dead and naked people.” He returned to the surface carrying a bronze arm, which quickly caught the attention of the Greek authorities.
This find marked the beginning of what would become one of the most important underwater archaeological sites in the world.
The First Excavations Revealed Statues, Jewelry, and Artifacts from Ancient Greece
Still in 1900, the Greek Royal Navy sent vessels to investigate the site. The first rescue operations took place between 1900 and 1902, conducted by the sponge fishers themselves using extremely primitive diving equipment.
The divers used metal helmets and pressurized canvas suits, which allowed them to stay at the bottom of the sea for only a few minutes before surfacing again.
Even with these limitations, the recovered material was extraordinary. Among the artifacts found were:
- bronze and marble statues
- gold and silver jewelry
- amphorae used for transporting wine
- ancient coins
- navigational instruments
- finely crafted glass vessels
One of the most impressive objects was the Antikythera Ephebe, a bronze sculpture over 1.90 meters tall, dated to the 4th century B.C. But the most mysterious find was yet to come.
The Antikythera Mechanism: The First Computer in History
Among the fragments pulled from the seabed was a mass of corroded bronze that initially did not attract attention. In 1902, the Greek politician and archaeologist Spyridon Stais noticed that one of the pieces contained metallic gears.
This was the Antikythera Mechanism, considered the most sophisticated mechanical device of Antiquity. The mechanism consists of a complex system of interconnected gears capable of calculating:
- positions of the Sun and the Moon
- lunar cycles
- positions of five known planets in Antiquity
- predictions of solar and lunar eclipses
- the four-year cycle of the Olympic Games
Constructed around the 2nd century B.C., the device is so advanced that nothing comparable appeared in the Western world for more than 1,400 years, until the emergence of European astronomical clocks in the Middle Ages. For many historians of technology, the mechanism represents the first known analog computer in human history.
The Antikythera Ship Probably Carried Looted Greek Art to Rome
Studies indicate that the ship sank around 60 B.C., possibly during a trip to Rome. At the time, the Roman Empire dominated much of the Mediterranean, and it was common to transport confiscated or acquired Greek artworks as payment for war debts.
Many historians believe that the ship was carrying sculptures intended to decorate villas, temples, or public buildings in Rome. Had it reached its destination, it is likely that:
- the statues would have been displayed in theaters or Roman porticos
- the mechanism would have been dismantled for recyclable metal
The shipwreck preserved this extraordinary cargo for more than two thousand years.
Modern Expeditions to the Antikythera Shipwreck Began in 1976 with Jacques Cousteau
After the first excavations in the early 20th century, the site remained without major investigations for decades until Jacques-Yves Cousteau dove in the area in 1976 with the ship Calypso. The expedition found new statues and various smaller artifacts.
From 2012 onwards, modern archaeological campaigns began to utilize much more advanced technologies, including:
- closed-circuit rebreather diving systems that allow for longer dives
- robotic underwater vehicles
- three-dimensional mapping of the seabed
In 2016, archaeologists found a well-preserved human skeleton, opening up the possibility of genetic analysis to identify the origins of the crew.
Recent Archaeological Campaigns Revealed New Secrets of the Shipwreck
Between 2021 and 2025, the project “Return to Antikythera” was conducted by the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece in collaboration with the University of Geneva and the Greek Ministry of Culture. During these campaigns, archaeologists removed large rocks that covered parts of the archaeological site.
In 2022, three stone blocks weighing about 8.5 tons each were moved, revealing new artifacts and additional human remains. Teeth found at the site may allow for DNA analysis capable of revealing the geographical origin of the crew.
In 2025, Archaeologists Recovered for the First Time Part of the Ship’s Hull
Between May 23 and June 20, 2025, a team led by Professor Lorenz Baumer from the University of Geneva and archaeologist Angeliki Simosi conducted the final season of the project. The major discovery was a fragment of the ship’s hull.
The set includes:
- three outer planks of the hull
- one fragment of a structural internal rib
The pieces were still fitted together, which is extremely rare in shipwrecks of such age. The fragment measures approximately:
- 0.40 meters wide
- 0.70 meters long
The wood used includes elm and oak, species common in Mediterranean shipbuilding. Preliminary dating indicates around 235 B.C., suggesting that the ship could have been built more than a century before sinking, undergoing repairs throughout its lifetime.
“Shell-First” Shipbuilding Technique Reveals How Greeks Built Ships
The discovery confirmed that the ship was built using the technique known as shell-first. In this method, builders first assembled the outer hull structure, fitting the wooden planks together. Only after were:
- internal ribs
- structural reinforcements
- supporting elements
This method was typical of Mediterranean shipbuilding between the 4th and 1st centuries B.C.. Until now, however, archaeologists had no direct evidence that the Antikythera ship had been built this way.
The recovery of the fragment allowed for confirmation of this structural detail for the first time.
Other Findings in 2025 Reveal Details of Life Onboard
In addition to the hull, the archaeological campaign found new significant artifacts. Among them were:
- amphorae from the island of Chios, used for transporting wine
- a terracotta mortar, possibly used for preparing food
- fragments of a male marble statue
The base of the statue, with part of the left leg, was recovered after the removal of a large rock. The rest of the sculpture remains trapped in concretions on the seabed.
Additional wood fragments associated with lead, copper, and tar were also found, materials used in the caulking of ancient ships, a technique meant to make the hull waterproof.
Antikythera Shipwreck May Involve Two Different Ships
Recent research also revealed an intriguing detail. In 2024, archaeologists confirmed the presence of a second ship about 200 meters from the main wreck. This raises new hypotheses:
- the two ships may have traveled together
- both may have sunk in the same storm
- or the second may represent another maritime accident that occurred in the region
If confirmed, the archaeological site of Antikythera could reveal an even more complex story of maritime trade in the ancient Mediterranean.
The Antikythera Shipwreck Remains One of the Most Important Archaeological Sites in the World
More than a century after its discovery, the Antikythera shipwreck continues to produce discoveries capable of transforming knowledge about the ancient world. From the depths of the sea have emerged:
- hundreds of artifacts
- dozens of sculptures
- human remains
- the first analog computer in history
- and now a part of the ship itself
Even after 125 years of excavations, archaeologists believe that much of the site still remains unexplored. The site that began to be discovered by sponge fishers fleeing a storm continues to reveal fundamental clues about technology, trade, and engineering of ancient Greek civilization.
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