Off Alexandriain the bay of Abu Qir, the waters return fragments of a millennial story. Port cities of Canopo And Heracleiionprosperous in the Ptolemaic and Roman era, were submerged from earthquakes, tsunami and the rise in sea level. After more than 2,000 years, archaeologists and divers are bringing to light buildings, basins, moles and statues who tell the life of these ancient communities.
Among the most surprising findings stands out one Sphinx of quartz With the cartouche of Ramses II, a symbol of the continuity of Egyptian culture, together with granite Ptolemaic statues and marble Roman portraits. Even if many sculptures are incomplete, the remaining parts allow you to Understanding the artistic skill and richness of the disappeared cities.
The submerged archaeological heritage
The recovery operations follow rigorous scientific criteria, inspired by the UNESCO Convention of 2001 on the submerged heritage. Only finds with a documented historical value are brought to the surface as the Minister of Tourism and Egyptian antiquities specified Sherif Fathi, while others remain on the seabed, preserving the integrity of the site. Archaeologists also reported a 125 meters pierstone anchors and a merchant ship, witnesses of an intense commercial activity along the coast of the Nile delta.
The use of Advanced underwater cranes and techniques It made it possible to preserve the integrity of the finds, many of which had remained buried under sediment for centuries. This scientific attention guarantees that the heritage can be studied and valued without compromising the structures still submerged.
The threat of water
Despite the discoveries, Alexandria today faces the same risk that the canopy and Heracleion is submerged centuries. The land of the city He lowers over three millimeters a year And the raising of the sea level linked to climate change puts entire coastal areas at risk. Archaeologists and local authorities underline the importance of preserve both the sites that emerged and those still submergedso that future generations can know a unique heritage in the world.
Recent discoveries not only tell of an extraordinary past, but also offer a look at the link between history, archeology and the environment. The waters of the Mediterranean thus become custodians of a millenary memory, restoring treasures that seemed lost and remembering how fragile the cultural heritage can be (and for this it should be protected) in front of the natural forces.
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