Full Belly: The Secret Operation That Revealed an Ancient Merchant Ship on the Seabed
Marine archaeologists in Greece have uncovered the remains of an ancient merchant ship carrying hundreds of amphorae off the coast of Andros. The discovery, announced by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, sheds new light on maritime trade networks in the Aegean Sea during the late classical period.
Marine archaeologists in Greece have uncovered the remains of an ancient merchant ship carrying hundreds of amphorae — ancient jars used for transporting goods — on the seabed off the island of Andros. The discovery, revealed by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, sheds new and precise light on maritime trade networks in the Aegean Sea during the late classical period.
The ship was located following information provided to the authorities by a private individual, which led to a targeted underwater investigation. A team of diver archaeologists descended to the seabed and discovered that a significant cargo lies in relative integrity at a depth ranging between 39 and 44 meters.
According to initial professional assessments, the ship carries approximately 600 to 650 amphorae — commercial pottery vessels with pointed bottoms, which were used in the ancient world as the primary packaging solution for transporting agricultural products such as wine and olive oil across the Mediterranean basin.
Preliminary analysis indicates that the findings date back to the end of the fifth and the beginning of the fourth century BCE, a period defined as the late classical era. During the underwater survey, researchers recovered part of a lead anchor structure and identified several heavy stones originally used as ballast to maintain the ship's equilibrium in the open sea.
The research operations are being carried out by a team of experts from the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, including diver archaeologist Dionysios Evangelistis, underwater antiquities conservator Angelos Tsoumpenidis, and seabed technician Louis Marsenier, who are operating advanced equipment to document the rare findings.
This archaeological discovery joins a series of important maritime findings in the Aegean Sea and provides researchers with a rare glimpse into the economic mechanisms of the ancient world. Experts emphasize that further research at the site will allow for a deep understanding of commercial shipping routes, the ship's ports of origin and destination, and the complex array of trade relations that existed in Ancient Greece.
