Speakers
Mr Georges SOUKIASSIAN
Archaeologist at the Centre for Alexandrian Studies (CEAlex)
Biography:
Georges Soukiassian is an archaeologist at the Centre for Alexandrian Studies (CEAlex), a public research unit of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Alexandria. Previously, he was an archaeologist at the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology (IFAO) in Cairo (1981–2013). He worked mainly on the pharaonic habitation site of Balat and Dakhla Oasis, and excavated at Gebel el-Zeit on the Red Sea Coast, Coptos and Tebtynis. He is an underwater archaeologist in Alexandria since 1994 at Pharos site, and the survey and excavation of the shipwrecks lying off the ancient port.
Abstract:
Shipwrecks and Anchors: Underwater Surveys of the Center for Alexandrian Studies off the Qaitbay Fort (1996–2016)
Nicolas BOICHOT
Georges SOUKIASSIAN
From 1996 to 1998, in partnership with Egyptian Supreme Council for Antiquities, the Center for Alexandrian Studies (CEAlex, USR 3134), a public research unit of the French National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) in Alexandria, directed by Jean-Yves Empereur, undertook a series of underwater surveys to explore a wide area around the ancient lighthouse and outside the Eastern Harbor of Alexandria, especially next to the Diamond Rock. Ancient travelers quoted this rock as a danger for ships entering the Eastern Harbor.
As a result of the work done by CEAlex during this period, anchors dating from Antiquity to the 18th century and four possible shipwrecks have been documented. The anchors have been published in 2015 : Alexandria under the Mediterranean. Archaeological studies in memory of Honor Frost (Etudes Alexandrines 36).
In 2015, a new series of excavations have been launched in order to complete the study of these sites and to publish the results of research. During 2015 and 2016, three campaigns took place on a shipwreck designed as Qaitbay 1, sunk 200 m off Qaitbay fort, which carried a cargo of Roman amphoras from Italy dating to the 1st century BCE. A fourth campaign is ongoing.