History After years of conducting extensive marine archaeology projects, Franck Goddio and his partners in Underwater Archaeology and Discovery, Ltd., decided the time had come to bring these exciting discoveries to the public in a more global way. The new, non-profit organization - The Society for Underwater Exploration - made its public debut on October 28, 1998 at an international press conference in Alexandria, Egypt and with the launching of a global Website, www.underwaterdiscovery.org At the press conference announcing the Society's founding, Franck Goddio revealed the latest discoveries involving Cleopatra's Palace in the ancient Royal City of Alexandria and first results of the excavations of the wreckage of sunken ships from Napoleon Bonaparte's fleet in nearby Aboukir. The fleet was destroyed in the famous Battle of the Nile led by Britain's fabled Admiral Nelson. The Royal Quater has been buried udner the sea for more than 1,600 years because of a major earthquake that set off tidal waves, destroying holy temples and drowing the city. In the years that followed the ruins were covered by layers of sediment until Franck Goddio's team rediscovered them in 1996. This year the underwater archaeology team, which focused its 1998 efforts on the Antirhodos Island and its royal port, discovered a well-preserved shipwreck 30 meters long. Radio carbon dating on samples of wood indicates that the age of the wreck is between 90 BC and 130 AD. The bottom of the hull lies close to a submerged antique pier and the wreckage was found in the private harbor of the island. Artifacts, including rigging, ceramics, remains of food, glass shards and jewelry were found inside the wreckage, and its good state of preservation will enable a detailed naval architctural study to be carried on. The wreck is an important find for the explorers not least because of its state of preservation but also because of its location in the private harbor. Evidence from a hole in the ship's hull suggests it could have sunk after being rammed by another boat. The 1998 Goddio mission includes several excavations in the small harbor, which revealed ceramics dating from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD. A heavy concentration of remains was found in front of the platform where the island's palace used to be, where thick sedimentation at 4.5 meters under the bottom of the sea hid artifacts dating from the 1st century AD. Deeper archelogical excavations will continue in 1999. The results of the exploration are detailed in a scientific book to be published at the end of October. The book is entitled "Alexandria - The Submerged Royal Quaters." Contributors to the book are leading experts on antiquity: Jean Yoyotte (professeur honoraire, College de France, Institute d'Egyptologie); Andre Bernand (professeur emerite des Universites); Etienne Bernand (professeur honoraire des Universites); Professeur Zoalt Kiss (Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw); and Professor Francoise Dunand (professer a l'Universite de Strasbourg). Expertise has also come from Professor Emily Teeter (University of Chicago), Professor G. Majcherek and engineer A. de Graauw. Through special sections and features on the Society's website...through the international television specials produced in cooperation with Discovery Communications, Inc. and Canal + ... and through books and CD-Roms, we will seek to chronicle unprecedented expeditions around the globe that uncover lost worlds and reveal new scientific and historical discoveries. We hope you will share the excitement of discovery and adventure with us by visiting this website often.