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V.V. Lebedinskiy, M.I. Tyurin, Y.A. Pronina (Moscow) – Results of the Research of the International Syrian-Russian Underwater Archaeological Mission in the Water Area of Tartus Governorate and Arvad Island in 2021–2022

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Abstract

The article presents the results of underwater archaeological research conducted by the International Syrian-Russian Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic water area in 2021–2022. The objectives of the work were to search for, survey, record and identify underwater archaeological sites in the water area of the Tartus Governorate. A large-scale study of the seabed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea was carried out, during which a signifi cant number of underwater objects were identifi ed that were promising for further study. The surviving fragments of fortifi cations and port facilities of Arwad Island, the Maraclea fortress near Kharab Maraqiyah, the coast of the ancient town of Amrit, the islands of Al-Abbas, Al-Faris, Al-Fanar and Makhrut and the deep-water areas between them were examined. 40 archaeological items were raised. These are ceramics, throwing stones, basalt items, which were handed over the Department of Antiquities and Museums of Tartus Governorate. The results of the research are the creation of digital plans and 3D models of the structures of Arwad Island, the remains of the Maraclea fortress, photogrammetric plans and digital models of the above-mentioned islands and the ancient necropolises and quarries located on them, as well as a survey of the coast of Amrit using the ground penetrating radar.

Keywords

Underwater archaeology, Syria, Tartus Governorate, Arwad, side-scan sonar, profiler, marine magnetometer, shipwrecks.

Viktor V. Lebedinskiy, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Sevastopol State University, Sevastopol, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Maksim I. Tyurin, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Yuliya A. Pronina, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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