(DailyEmailNews.com) – In a stunning discovery, a group of researchers recently unearthed a remarkably preserved ancient landscape beneath the Adriatic Sea near the sunken city of Soline.
The amazing find dates back to around 7,000 years ago, according to a report.
Built by the ancient Hvar culture on a man-made landmass, the remnants of Soline now lie submerged off the coast of present-day Croatia.
The city was established around 12,000 BC and later submerged due to rising sea levels after the last Ice Age.
It featured a complex network of rivers and estuaries, which is part of a well-preserved underwater landscape.
Geo-archaeologist Dr. Simon Fitch led the exploration team, which employed advanced underwater 3D seismic sensors to map this forgotten world.
The preliminary findings suggest a vibrant, dynamic environment, likely filled with ancient human activity now buried beneath the sea floor.
“That’s amazing, because it suggests it is more likely that people lived there,” Fitch remarked.
This revelation not only highlights the complexity of the Hvar culture but also sheds light on the geographical and ecological features of the Adriatic region thousands of years ago.
It is worth noting that the nearby Dalmatian islands protected the submerged landscape against harsh oceanic conditions.
“It’s a more diverse landscape and it’s better preserved than we expected. The results provided way more detail than we were expecting,” Fitch noted.
He described how the research team uncovered “beautifully preserved rivers and estuaries buried beneath what is now the seafloor.”
Looking ahead to the latter part of 2024, the researchers plan to continue exploring and mapping the underwater sites.
They are hopeful that more artifacts and settlements will be discovered, which in turn will offer deeper insights into the lives of the Hvar people and their adaptations to ancient climatic changes.
Copyright 2024, DailyEmailNews.com
