Project Timeline

Early 1980s

Underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio first began to study ancient Alexandria back in the eighties, using historical documents as his guide. Before embarking on his missions in Egypt, he gathered valuable marine archaeology experiences excavating shipwrecks in Asia.

1987

Franck Goddio founded the IEASM 'Institut Européen D'Archéologie Sous-Marine' (European Institute of Marine Archaeology) in Paris and became a full-time underwater archaeologist. -- The basis for the research and exploration of remains of past civilizations was set.

1992

First archaeological surveys were conducted in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour. A complete topographical analysis was and still is the key to understanding the site -- before any excavations are initiated. The mission, like all following, was conducted in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt.

1996

In 1996 Franck Goddio gained the support of the Liechtenstein based Hilti Foundation, a foundation of the Martin Hilti Family Trust.

The Hilti Foundation, an acknowledged supporter of cultural, social, educational and scientific projects, whose president is Michael Hilti, a close friend of Franck Goddio, has since supported his Alexandria project, particularly because of its cultural and scientific significance.

The same year, Franck Goddio uncovered the exact location of the ancient Royal Quarters of Alexandria, which were lost to the sea over 1,600 years ago following a series of earthquakes and tidal waves, as well as a continuous slow subsiding of the land.

Finds from this mission include columns, capitals, blocks of granite, pavements and ceramics, and other remains of the Royal Quarters.

1997

New, outstanding artefacts were unveiled in Alexandria following a second phase of work, started in June. Evidence suggesting Alexander the Great used Antirhodos Island as a landing area for boats before the time of the foundation of Alexandria, was discovered.

Finds include important statues, among them a very rare one of a Priest carrying a canopic vase, a colossal head believed to be of Caesarion, son of Cleopatra VII and Julius Caesar, and two sphinxes, one of them probably representing Ptolemy XII, father of the Great Cleopatra.

The mission also showed that the whole island had been leveled by mortar platforms around the 3rd century BC to support buildings.

1998

Remains of a 30 metres long well-preserved shipwreck sunk in the private harbour of Antirhodos possibly after having been rammed by another boat were excavated.

Excavations at the ancient coastline and the sunken peninsula of the Poseidium.

A scientific publication 'Alexandria - the Submerged Royal Quarters', (http://www.franckgoddio.org/Sitemap/Shop/Book.aspx) was released in cooperation with leading experts in the various fields of research, including Professor J. Yoyotte; Professor A. Bernand; Professor E. Bernand; Professor Z. Kiss; and Professor F. Dunand. The document outlines for the first time all the results of the surveys, archaeological excavations and analyses at Alexandria.

1999

In order to complete the map of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour during September and October 1999 Franck Goddio and his team made an electronic survey of the west part of the harbour and located the navalia (Latin for ancient shipyard).

Franck also conducted an excavation in front of Antirhodos Island. The stratography of the layers allowed to reach at 6.5 metres underwater a layer containing very early Hellenistic ceramics. A specialist in ancient naval architecture resumed the study of the ancient wreck dating back to the 1st century AD found in the royal harbour of Antirhodos Island.

2000

Excavations on the peninsula of the Poseidium.

Mapping and excavation at the underwater structures west of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour: navalia.

2001

Franck Goddio presented to the public for the first time the complete map of Eastern Harbour. The map is significantly different from all other previous maps both ancient and modern and therefore provides valuable new information for archaeologists and Egyptologists alike.

Continuing excavation in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour, peninsula of the Poseidium, navalia and Antirhodos Island.

2002

Archaeological excavation on a site which seems to correspond to the Timonium, retreat of Marc Antony, in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour. This building was erected on a platform at the extremity of a dike protruding from the peninsula of the Poseidium.

2003

Continuation of archaeological excavations.

The Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology was founded with the aim to work in close co-operation with Franck Goddio’s existing team. Post Graduate students join the archaeological missions in Alexandria and Heracleion contributing to the study of the artefacts retrieved during excavations through doctoral theses.

2004

Continuation of excavation work in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour. Work at the peninsula of the Poseidium, in particular on the temples located at its base, close to the present land.

Work was also done at the other extremity of the peninsula on the platform situated at the end of a dike protruding from the Poseidium. Excavations began here in 2002 on the site of a rather well preserved structure. In 2004 the work revealed the foundations of the building as well as artefacts from the very late Ptolemaic period (2nd half of 1st century BC) and Roman times (1st - 2nd century AD).

2005

The work completed in 2005 has led to a significant amount of new finds and positive information. The archaeological excavation work continued on the architectural remains located on the platform at the tip of the south-west dike protruding from the sunken Poseidium peninsula.

The team was evidenced nine layers of important limestone construction blocks. Some construction blocks are nearly 2 metres long. The team also found quite well preserved wall remains from a monument which was once part of the royal quarters, close to the Royal part of the galleys.

2006

In early April we resumed our mission in the sunken Portus Magnus on the site of the Timonium. Although we gained some very interesting insights into this important historical monument a riddle remains: in the middle of the 30 x 30 m building it is highly probable that a large cavity existed in the basement below the water level. This will be investigated next year.

2007

The main objective of the expedition was to perform excavations on remains of buildings at the ancient coast. During the excavations, Byzantine gold coins were uncovered dating back from the 7th and 8th century A.D. No artefacts of later date were unearthed. This fact is leading the mission to believe that this part of the Portus Magnus was finally submerged at the same time than Canopus and Heracleion in the second half of the 8th century A.D.

2008

This year’s spring expedition in Egypt focused on Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour. Important new discoveries were made near Cape Lochias and on the Poseidium peninsula. At Cape Lochias we discovered the structure of a building stretching over 100 metres in length and 70 metres in width. On the Poseidium peninsula we were able to retrieve important artefacts, among them bronze statuettes and diorite sculptures that are linked to a temple. We have also found a finger from a Bronze statue; the size of the finger indicates that the statue itself must have measured about four metres in height. Another important discovery is that of a marble high relief depicting Hercules as a child lying on a lion skin. Several excavations were also performed on the ancient coast line, Antirhodos Island and the Poseidium. The stratigraphies brought very interesting results relevant to the occupation periods.