On Sunday, October 5, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will visit the area of the famous Antikythera shipwreck. The trip comes as a group of Greek, American and Swiss researchers map the the ancient shipwreck’s immediate environs. The international team, which has already started geophysical searches using metal detectors, aims to complete its survey by October 15.
Last week, researchers began mapping the shipwreck at depths of up to 300 meters. Their mission is made possible by a new, Canadian-manufactured diving suit costing upwards of 1.5 million euros. The group aims to explore the remnants of the Hellenistic-era ship, which once held the intriguing Antikythera Mechanism. The advanced Canadian diving gear, dubbed the “Exosuit,” gives divers greater flexibility and the ability to remain underwater for longer periods of time without needing to go through the process of decompression. The suit, which weighs approximately 530 pounds, is constructed of aluminum alloy.
Thus far, the group has surmised that the boat which sank off Antikythera’s coast was carrying more than just an ancient astrological device. It may have been carrying priceless works of art, too. What is more, a second shipwreck has been discovered just 250 meters away from the first. Some experts believe that the two vessels might have been traveling together. It is conceivable that a second mechanism awaits discovery in the second shipwreck.
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