By Nicolas Bard

The recent archaeological research conducted recently in the Ikaria Fournoi archipelago has brought to light significant findings from the island’s wrecks.

At the heart of the research was the impressive shipwreck of the early Byzantine period, found in Cape White Kavos, north of the Kamari settlement, on the east coast of the island, on a strongly sloping and sandy seabed, 43 – 48.

It is one of the most inaccessible areas of Fourni, as it is hit by strong winds throughout the year.

Of the 60 shipwrecks found in the Fourni Archipelago, the wreck of the early Byzantine period was chosen as the most scientific interest, both because of its integrity and cohesion and because of its heterogeneous load. There were six different types of amphorae, coming from the Crimean region and Heraklia of Pontus in the Black Sea. The main load is framed by a complementary load of table pottery, originating from the area of ​​Fokaia in northwestern Asia Minor.

A survey conducted on the shallowyst side of the shipwreck revealed about 15 buried amphorae, including a type of amphora attributed to the city of Sinop, the Black Sea, a multitude of table ceramics and parts of the wood, which are attributed to its skeleton,
The elevated table pottery has been particularly enlightening about the more accurate chronological integration of this wreck, which can now be safely dated between the years 480 and 520 AD, probably over the years of Emperor Anastasios I (491 – 518 AD), Its monetary reforms, which strengthened state funds and allowed the expansive policy of 6th -century emperors.

This great study conducted at the blue seabed of the Fournoi involved a total of 25 divers with different specialties (archaeologists, architects, antiquities conservationists, professional divers, photographers, filmmakers, undergraduate and postgraduate students), and 29 hours were held 29. The systematic research and excavation of the shipwreck is expected to continue in the future, as there are still many to learn from it.

The ancient bourgeoisie wrecks are the most we come across in the Aegean area and stand out not only for their number, but also for the time range they cover and the loads they carry. For this reason, the inhabitants of the island, among other things, hope in the coming years to create two submarine archaeological parks there, so that the ovens are not just a field for scientists, but also for ordinary visitors, who will be able to admire them.