A submarine archaeological survey was carried out near the archaeological site of Asini, east of Tolo Argolis, Greece.

During the survey, which was carried out between 7 and 11 October 2024, it was revealed that the seabed preserved significant remains of the stone-built port facility. These consisted of fallen material such as stones and treated building materials.

Probably the most significant finds are the amphora shells found in the stone structure and the broken pottery in Section 4A. The contexts of these fragmentary surviving vessels suggest that they were deposited during the use of the platform or at the time of its abandonment and fall. They can therefore be used as clues in the debate on the dating of the structure, according to the Ministry of Culture.

The excavation in 2024 focused on the seabed near the northwestern end of the artificial platform. This particular site was chosen on the basis that the artificial plateau survives there in good condition and appears to have retained much of its original shape. The area occupied by the excavated section was 16 sq.m. The excavated area was documented by photogrammetry at points where the diversity and variety of archaeological assemblages dictated.

The next step will be to make one or possibly two cuts at the top of the plateau. The section will be excavated by hand and sediments will be removed by dredging. Any artefacts and building remains will be recorded in situ using photogrammetry.

Due to its favourable location, this site was inhabited in both prehistoric and historic times. The excavation research was carried out as part of a five-year research project that started in 2022, as a continuation of the pilot research conducted in 2021 and was a collaboration between the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the Swedish Institute of Athens and the University of Stockholm, with participants from the University of Gothenburg and the Nordic Maritime Group. The Greek side was directed by Dr Panagiota Galiatsatou, Diving Archaeologist of the Ephorate of Maritime Antiquities, and the Swedish side by Professor Ann-Louise Schallin (Scientific Director, University of Stockholm) and Dr Niklas Eriksson (Field Director, University of Stockholm). Also participating were Ms. Ekaterini Tagonidou, Diving Architect-Engineer at the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, Mr. Themistoklis Troupakis, Diving Engineer TE, BA Jens Lindström, from the Nordic Maritime Group and MA Staffan Von Arbin, from the University of Gothenburg.

Archaeological investigations in 2021 and 2022 had revealed the extent and nature of a large artificial port facility east of the Kastraki site. The main structure consists of a large artificial plateau located in shallow waters. On top of this plateau, rooms and building structures in the form of houses can probably be discerned. These remains were recorded using photogrammetry during the research period of 2022 as they were in need of further investigation. As the settlement of Assini was consistently inhabited since prehistoric times, it is difficult to ascertain when this port facility was originally constructed.

The results of the research will be published in the scientific journal of the Swedish Institutes of Athens and Rome, Opuscula, and other scientific journals.