Atlantis: Geologist discusses underwater find off Greek coast
A Roman-era shipwreck from the bed of the Mediterranean Sea off the Sicilian coast has now been recovered from the Mediterranean sea bed.
The Greek vessel’s cargo of rare orichalcum metal – which is shrouded in myths of Atlantis – has been brought to the surface after being submerged for thousands of years.
The ship – know as the Gela II after the coastal town near where the wreck is located – has rested undisturbed for over 2,600 years.
The mission combines historical intrigue, advanced maritime engineering, and the tantalising allure of one of history’s most enduring legends.
The Gela II was first discovered in 2014, lying 300 metres beneath the waves, its wooden frame remarkably preserved under layers of sediment.
Gela II is on the bottom of the Mediterranean. (Image: Soprintendenza del Mare)
Initial exploratory dives revealed its cargo: a collection of 39 ingots of orichalcum, a metal mentioned in ancient texts, including those of the Greek philosopher Plato.
Orichalcum is often frequently linked to Atlantis, the mythical advanced civilisation described in Plato’s dialogues Timaeus and Critias.
According to these ancient texts, orichalcum was a prized material in Atlantis, used to adorn the city’s temples and palaces, signifying wealth and power.
While modern science has subsequently identified orichalcum as an alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc, its mystique endures, fuelling speculation about its origin and cultural significance.
Nevertheless, the ship’s cargo, coupled with its Mediterranean location, has ignited theories among enthusiasts of ancient mysteries.
Some have suggested the Gela II might have been transporting goods to or from a civilisation with links to the Atlantean legend while others argue that the ingots were destined for a known Roman trading hub, as Sicily was a strategic crossroads of commerce in antiquity.
Archaeologists, however, remain cautious and have emphasised the importance of further analysis to discern the metal’s precise origins and purpose.
The upcoming recovery operation is a technically complex and environmentally sensitive task that will cost an estimated £420,000 and take about 270 days. Underwater archaeologists, marine engineers, and conservation experts will work together to carefully lift the wreck and its artefacts without causing further damage.
Using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) equipped with precision tools will allow for delicate excavation of the surrounding sediment, revealing more about the ship’s structure and contents.
Once the ingots have been recovered, they undergo extensive laboratory analysis to determine their composition, potentially unlocking clues about the ship’s voyage and its broader historical context.
Gela II was loaded up with orichalcum ingots. (Image: Soprintendenza del Mare)
Sicily’s regional government has partnered with international institutions, including the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, to ensure the project adheres to global conservation standards.
Officials hope the Gela II’s recovery will illuminate ancient Mediterranean trade networks and bolster the region’s cultural tourism.
Artefacts from the ship, including the orichalcum ingots, are expected to be displayed at the Museo Archeologico Regionale in Gela, where they will join a growing collection of treasures from the area’s rich history.
The cargo also included amphorae – jars used for storing wine and other liquids -pottery, metal objects, and maybe even personal belongings, potentially offering fascinating insights about the trade routes, economy, and daily life of the ancient Greeks.
Speaking in October, Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, Sicilian regional councillor for Cultural Heritage: “The sea of Gela has returned finds crucial for the reconstruction of its history.
“The recovery of this second wreck constitutes a further opportunity for the Gela territory to continue that process of cultural and tourist development that this part of Sicily deserves.
“The two Greek ships and the numerous finds recovered in these years, will be able to constitute a cultural attraction center linked to the underwater archaeology that Gela has been waiting for too many years and that will allow to combine the needs of a scientific type with those of a cultural type”.
Atlantis is often depicted as a powerful and advanced civilisation that disappeared under the sea “in a single day and night of misfortune”
Plato places it beyond the Pillars of Hercules, which has been interpreted as the Strait of Gibraltar, leading some to speculate that it lay in the Atlantic Ocean. Other theories propose the Mediterranean as its location, with sites such as Santorini, Crete, and Cyprus suggested as potential candidates, linked to the catastrophic eruption of the Thera volcano around 1600 BCE.
Alternatively, some scholars argue that Atlantis was purely allegorical, a tale to illustrate the dangers of hubris and overreach.
While mainstream historians consider it a myth, its allure persists. Hypotheses range from a prehistoric civilisation to an early depiction of lost lands like Doggerland or the Azores Plateau.
If it ever existed, its timeline is thought to predate Plato’s account by 9,000 years, aligning it with the end of the last Ice Age.
