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- Ελληνικά
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of State for Culture announces the end of the third phase of the underwater survey of Dreamers Bay, on the south coast of the Cape Peninsula. The survey is part of the Ancient Akrotiri Project, an ongoing research project that has been taking place in the area since 2015. The project leader is Professor Simon James, of the University of Leicester and the research directors are Dr Maria Michael and Dr Lucy Blue. The research is also supported by the Honor Frost Foundation which is a foundation that supports research into maritime archaeology mainly in the eastern Mediterranean regions (Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, and Egypt). The investigations lasted from 23 June to 3 July 2023.
A team of professional maritime archaeologists, photographers, divers, and surveyors from Cyprus, England, and America further studied the ancient jetty and the surrounding marine area of Dreamers Bay. The research was carried out with the permission of the Department of Antiquities and the authorities of the British Cape Bases. Royal Air Force personnel assisted in the preparation and during the survey.
The main purpose of the 2023 underwater survey was to achieve a comprehensive study and understanding of the role of Dreamers Bay's location within its complex maritime cultural landscape. Accordingly, the third phase of the survey focused on five key objectives: (1) further survey and topographic mapping of the ancient jetty; (2) detailed and systematic mapping and photogrammetry of the tiled 'wreck' to achieve a thorough study of it; (3) re-examination of the area where the stone anchors were located, for a more comprehensive study of them in relation to the rest of the site, (4) research in deeper water to achieve a better understanding of the area, and (5) additional research and study of the ceramic assemblage located east of the breakwater to interpret it.
A more systematic and detailed topographic survey of the breakwater was conducted using a total station geodetic survey. All data collected were processed in the QGIS program. The objective was to generate lateral and cross sections, which would allow a better understanding and interpretation of the morphology and nature of the breakwater structure. Also, specific sections of the jetty were selected to be photographed, completing its photogrammetric mapping.
A systematic mapping of the area where the "wreck" was located was also carried out by collecting tiles in 2019. Divers surveyed the area by pulling a buoy, which was on the surface of the water and carried a GPS, which recorded the route followed by the divers and the places where finds were located. The application of this methodology helped to record and determine the exact location of the finds. Also, the mapping of this area determined its extent, making it easier to carry out photogrammetric mapping of the finds in order to create their 3D models.
During the 2019 survey, 10 stone anchors were also identified in the deeper waters. In 2023, an attempt was made to locate these anchors and make a more systematic imaging of them. Unfortunately, only five of these stone anchors were located, which were photographed and their exact location recorded using GPS. Two of them were recovered and transported to the Local Archaeological Museum of Kourion in Episkopi.
Further research in deeper waters, beyond 10 metres and up to 20 metres, was also planned in order to identify new finds and achieve a better understanding of the area. It was decided to use a scooter to carry out this survey, but some technical problems prevented it from being carried out. Nevertheless, the archaeologists conducted a survey in a straight line with equal distance between them using compasses and GPS to record new finds and the route they followed during their survey. The survey was mainly carried out to the west of the tile 'wreck'. Only a few scattered fragments of pottery were identified. All data recorded on the GPS will be further processed in the Geographic Information System (ArcGIS).
Finally, additional survey and analysis was carried out to the east of the jetty, where a large concentration of pottery was identified. Selected finds were lifted to aid in their typological and chronological analysis.
(EC/SX)
Image captions:
Figure 1: Topographic survey of the jetty using the Total Station (Photo by Professor Simon James)
Figure 2: The tile 'wreck' (Photo by Steven Lopez).
Figure 3: Process of photographing a stone anchor (Photo by Carmen Obied).
Figure 4: Process of surveying in lines with equal distance between divers (Photo by Carmen Obied).
Figure 4: Process of surveying in lines with equal distance between divers (Photo by Carmen Obied).
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