Divers recover fragments of ancient ‘computer’ from 65 B.C. shipwreck

However, the professional technical divers involved in the excavation only had four days to recover artifacts from the wreck because of bad weather.

This millennia-old shipwreck off the coast of Greece’s Antikythera island sits at a depth of roughly 55 meters (approximately 180 feet), underwater explorers say.

The famous Greek shipwrecked around 65 B.C. The wreck was discovered in 1900 by Greek sponge fishermen on the island of Antikythera.

An ancient wreck, dating back to around 65BC, is still revealing many secrets and treasures about the lifestyles of the Greek and ancient. Although the divers are not sure what they will come up with, one thing they know for sure is that the shipwreck can potentially hold a treasure trove of unbelievable artifacts and one such fantastic find from the first inspection is the Antikythera Mechanism.

Fast forward well over a century and, last year, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, together with researchers at Greece’s Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, set out to have a closer look at the shipwreck.

The ancient “computer” was a mechanical device that predicted eclipses and tracked the movements of stars and planets, according to the site. At the time they managed to salvage 36 marble statues of mythological heroes and gods; a life-sized bronze statue of an athlete; pieces of several more bronze sculptures; scores of luxury items; and skeletal remains of crew and passengers.

Foley and his colleagues are part of an ongoing scientific excavation of the Antikythera shipwreck that began in 2014. The scientists want to recreate the history of the ship’s “exquisite cargo and its final voyage.” said WHOI. As per New Scientist, divers have understood that they have to dig deeper to find more valuable information. Its director, Dr. Ageliki Simosi, and field archaeologists Dr. Theotokis Theodoulou and Dr. Dimitris Kourkoumelis were also involved in the project. Prior to the actual expedition, another team of researchers from the University of Sydney participated in an effort to map the area. The project is the first-ever systematic excavation of this shipwreck, relying on the precise large-area map created by the robotic survey.

Metal detectors revealed the presence of buried objects throughout the wreck site.

The team also found parts of the ship itself such as fragments of lead hull sheathing and two lead anchor stocks, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and their collaborators detail in a report.

The latest dives at the wreckage which has been dubbed as the “Titanic of the ancient world”, yielded a bronze armrest that is believed to part of a throne, a bone flute, some extremely well crafted glassware, fine ceramics and a single piece from an ancient board game.

The previously discovered artifacts will displayed in a special exhibition in Switzerland from September 27 to March next year.