French archaeologist Franck Goddio, who has headed teams mapping and excavating the remains over the past decade, recently completed a six-week survey programme.
In Alexandria, the team carried out further excavations on the royal quarter's waterfront, and raised Byzantine gold coins dating from the 7th and 8th centuries AD.
The fact that no items from later periods were found has reinforced the idea that this part of Alexandria became submerged at the same time as Heraklion and its neighbouring town of Canopus, after the mid-8th century.
Examining Heraklion's south-eastern boundary, the team found new buildings and dock structures, establishing that the port was slightly bigger than previously thought.
The central harbour and some harbour basins were also re-examined. A special find raised was a 25.5cm-high statuette of the god Osiris, with patches of gold leaf still in place around the eyes.
An exhibition of hundreds of finds raised from the sites over the years is on display in the Federal Art Gallery in Bonn, Germany. It can be seen until 27 January next year. |
