Greece’s culture ministry has
announced plans to open to visitors some of the country’s vast heritage of
ancient shipwrecks, aiming to boost the economies of nearby islands. Alonissos
is where the first such shipwreck site will be developed, a 5th-century BC merchant
ship named the Peristera. The Peristera shipwreck, which contains 3,000 (wine)
amphorae, is one of the most important of the Classical Era.
According to Greek
archaeologists, the discovery demonstrates a knowledge of shipbuilding
previously thought non-existant before the Roman era some four centuries later.
Greek waters hold scores of ancient shipwrecks, around 60 alone are known to be
found near the Aegean islet of Fourni according to the culture ministry. But
fears of looting and organisational problems have for decades prevented the
Greek culture ministry from opening the sites to visitors.
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