Mapping Seemingly Insignificant Artifacts
Among the large architectural and hydraulic features that the divers recovered were hundreds of tiny fragments of ancient Greek amphorae (liquid holding containers), Phoenician pots, Egyptian vases, and household artifacts made of Roman stones. While these items might at first sound insignificant compared with the grandeur of the greater discovery, they are of huge archaeological significance.
Not only will these finds be jigsawed together by scientists to determine the life cycle of the ports that existed at the time, but they will also be used to help map the origins of the clay fragments. Knowing where the pottery fragments came from will allow the researchers to rebuild a map of the ancient maritime trade routes that connected this ancient port with the greater Mediterranean economy.