The coastal areas around Greece are no stranger to divers and archeologists, and a new discovery has added to the excitement surrounding the area. According to the Greek Reporter, local excavators have found the remnants of an ancient underwater settlement of some sort. Ruined clay pots and possible manmade structures seem to indicate that the place saw active trade, and its location off the shore of the island of Delos, which figures in Greek mythology, only adds to the mystery.

Though opinions differ over the exact nature of the buildings, the source says that Delos flourished until the 1st century B.C. One building, believed to have been a pottery shop, was found in a relatively shallow area of water, rather than port structures as they were previously thought to be. A press release from Greece's Ministry of Culture reports that "dressed blocks" from a local stadium may have also been discovered.

A photo included with Discovery.com's report on the ruins, which declared them an "underwater Pompeii," show large stones embedded in the ocean floor. As groups including the National Hellenic Research foundation continue to assess the site, more information surrounding other buildings connected to the site could surface. In addition to being the site of temples, Delos was also a target for pirates and traders as well as a slave trade area.  

Even though these discoveries were not made in especially deep water, research teams should make the effort to secure international marine insurance that enables safe operation in highly trafficked ocean areas or special protected sites. As new information is gathered, your divers and scientists could need to return  to the same scene and investigate it further.

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