For thousands of years, the city of Pavlopetri has been submerged off the coast of Laconia, reminiscent of the myth of the lost Atlantis, only here the word "myth" has no place. Pavlopetri really existed, it is scientifically documented and if you are one of those who like diving, you can see it with your own eyes.
However, it was only discovered in 1967 by Nicholas Flemming, an oceanographer at the University of Southampton, and mapped by another team of archaeologists a year later.
As the site was researched and explored, more and more exciting finds came to light. After all, one of the most important and perhaps unique worldwide characteristics of the sunken city is how well preserved it is.
Roads, intact buildings, graves, everything is there, in this settlement and waiting for anyone who dares to dive in to explore them. Consider that at least 15 buildings have been identified since the day the city was first discovered and are in excellent condition.
As an archaeological team from the University of Cambridge continued to excavate the site, one of the most obvious questions that arose was how old this settlement is. So, according to the estimates of archaeologists, the city must have been created close to 3,000 BC. and continued to be inhabited until approximately 1100 BC. Based on these dates, Pavlopetri is the oldest sunken city in the world.
In addition to the almost perfectly preserved structures of the city, other objects such as cooking utensils and Minoan jars were found. Their connection with the Minoan civilization is no coincidence, as Pavlopetri apparently functioned as one of the main ports of the Peloponnese at that time. The discovery of such objects also gives us the opportunity to look back and really see how people lived in those ancient times..
Due to its great historical importance, Pavlopetri was claimed as a site by the Watch program, which is supported by the World's Monument Fund. And this happened because, among other things, antiquarians have laid eyes on it, making secret excavations, while at the same time, the large ships that pass over it - it is located between Pounta and Elafonissos - and sometimes anchor near it, can accidentally destroy it. Even with the pollution they cause, it is possible to alter its well-preserved condition.
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