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31-07-2023 10:37 |
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Ancient
Akrotiri - Dreamer’s Bay Project – Underwater Season 2023 |
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The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces the completion of the third underwater investigation at Dreamer’s Bay on the southern shores of Akrotiri Peninsula, in Cyprus. The survey was part of the Ancient Akrotiri Project, an ongoing collaborative research project on the peninsula conducted since 2015 led by Prof. Simon James of the University of Leicester. The underwater survey directors were Dr. Maria Michael and Dr. Lucy Blue. The survey was generously funded by the Honor Frost Foundation, which promotes the research of maritime archaeology with a particular focus on the eastern Mediterranean, specifically Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, and Egypt. The survey took place between June 23rd and July 3rd, 2023. A team of professional diving
maritime archaeologists, photographers, divers, and surveyors from Cyprus,
the UK, and the USA, further investigated the ancient breakwater and the
surrounding sea floor in Dreamer’s Bay. The work was carried out with the
approval of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, and the UK Sovereign Base
Areas Administration. RAF personnel helped in the preparation and offered
their time, expertise, and support during the field season. The main aim of the 2023
underwater survey season was to fully understand the role of Dreamers Bay within
its complex maritime culture landscape. Consequently, this season mainly
focused on five main tasks: further investigation and topographical record of
the ancient breakwater; detailed and systematic mapping and photogrammetry of
the tile wreck to determine its greater understanding; revisiting the nearby
stone anchors to better understand their relation to the site; offshore
survey to achieve a holistic understanding of this area; and further
investigation and analysis of the ceramic concentration to the east of the
breakwater in order to determine its nature. A more detailed and systematic
topographical survey was conducted of the breakwater using a total station.
All these points were then analysed in QGIS. The aim was to create lateral
and transversal sections that will allow a better understanding of its
morphology and the nature of its construction. Also, selected parts of the
breakwater were photographed to finalise its photogrammetric record. A systematic mapping of the
area of the tile wreck (concentrations of roof tiles and ceramics) located
during the 2019 season, was conducted. The divers surveyed this area by
towing pulling a surface marker buoy (SMB) that carried a GPS to track their
dive and the area of findings. This methodological approach helped to map and
determine its precise location and nature. Also, its mapping defined the
limits of its extent; as a result, it was easier to conduct an extensive
photogrammetric recording of the findings to create 3D models. During the 2019 season, ten
stone anchors were located in the deeper offshore waters. In the 2023 season,
the area of the stone anchors was revisited as these findings required
further investigation and better recording. Unfortunately, only five of the
stone anchors were successfully relocated. They were more thoroughly
photographed underwater and a record of their locations was taken using GPS.
Two of them were lifted and transferred to the Local Archaeological Museum of
Kourion in Episkopi. Offshore survey beyond 10 m
deep and up to a maximum of 20 m was planned to be conducted to identify new
finds and better understand the offshore area and approaches to the bay. The
plan was to use an underwater scooter in order to facilitate surveying larger
areas further offshore. However, some technical issues prevented undertaking
of the scooter survey. Instead, archaeologists conducted line surveys
following a compass bearing and used GPS to track their dives, in order to
locate any new findings or/and features underwater. The line surveys were
mainly conducted to the west of the tile wreck; however, only some scattered
fragments of ceramics were identified. All the diver tracks were
documented in the ArcGIS. Finally, further investigation
and analysis of the ceramic concentration to the east of the breakwater was
conducted. Selected findings were lifted only when they were useful
chronological and typological indicators. (EK/SCH) |
