Melos Geoarchaeological Project

Tracing the ancient shorelines along the volcanic arc of the Southern Aegean. Harbour morphologies and sea routes during antiquity. Research Site II: Melos.

The research project is being carried out by the Section of Greek and Roman Antiquity of the Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation, with scientific supervisor Dr Charikleia Papageorgiadou, research Director at the IHR/NHRF, and Dr Eleni Kolaiti, external collaborating researcher at the IHR/NHRF, serving as the research director.

The research has been ongoing since 2024, following the relevant authorization from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and is funded by the Secretariat General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy. It is supported by the Municipality of Melos, the Society for the Study of Ancient Coastlines – AKTES, Milos Diving Center, GeoSense, Creatures, and others. With an expected duration until the end of 2026, the main objective is the recording, documentation, and evaluation of the archaeological and geomorphological indicators of relative sea level changes, in order to draw conclusions about the changes in the coastal landscape from the prehistoric period, the Archaic and Classical periods, the Roman era, and up to modern times along the shores of the island of Melos.

Team

Dr Charikleia Papageorgiadou, Dr Eleni Kolaiti, Dr Nikos Mourtzas, Dr Marco Anzidei and Dr Vyron Antoniadis

Surveys

• bathymetric surveys using UAS (Drone Echo Sounder) 
• geospatial surveys using UAS 
• systematic recording and mapping of geomorphological and archaeological sea level indicators – depth measurements 
• aerial UAV survey – photogrammetric acquisitions – orthophotos 
• GNSS survey – georeferenced recording of submerged remains 
• 2D and 3D reconstructions of the seafloor and the coastal zone 
• underwater photography and video – processing and production of audiovisual material 
• mineralogical analysis of geological material (beachrocks) – radiometric dating