The 8000-year-old Neolithic site at Agios Petros is the earliest submerged settlement in the Aegean, and reveals astonishing insights into how the farmers, fishermen and seafarers that lived there, were part of an expansive Neolithic network connected by sailing ships – far more sophisticated than ever imagined.
Teams of archaeologists that have been exploring the site have found remains of tuna bones and specialized fishing hooks, indicating that the citizens of ancient Agios Petros were capable of deep-sea fishing, and domesticated animal remains also suggest that the Neolithic farmers were transporting cows and other livestock by boat.
In the 5th and final episode of the Dive & Dig Season II podcast, historian Professor Bettany Hughes talks to site director Nikos Efstratiou, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, about what the scientists have found so far, while maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue delves into ancient seafaring with Neolithic boat specialist Panos Tzovaras and ancient seafaring expert Helen Farr, of the Marine and Maritime Institute at Southampton University, to uncover evidence of how people were crossing the Aegean thousands of years ago, and why obsidian was so important to ancient Aegean trade.
Episode facts:
- DNA extraction has just begun – the first of its kind underwater
- A Neolithic farming settlement on an island in the Aegean, part of the site is now submerged underwater
- Bone remains show they were capable of deep sea fishing, and were transporting cows and other livestock by boat to the island!
- Models and iconography, such as rock art, has revealed more about ancient seafaring and the importance of boats during the Neolithic
- The transport of obsidian, a unique volcanic glass gives us clues about people travelling by sea thousands of years ago, and poses other questions about whether people were travelling the seas to acquire new things as a way to elevate their status in society
