Webinar: Franck Goddio - 25 years of maritime archaeology
In his live talk The Portus Magnus of Alexandria, French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio presented his discoveries of 25 years of research in today’s east port of Alexandria to Hilti team members.
"Today Franck Goddio will take us into the world of ancient Alexandria and share with us that fascinating picture, that has emerged like a puzzle over the past 25 years. And the good news right away: In future lectures he will also share with us the results from Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus, so watch out for respective announcements,"
Christine Rhomberg, Director Community Arts and Culture at the Hilti Foundation, introduced the lecture.
Exploring the past to understand the present
In 1996, the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), directed by Franck Goddio, began underwater explorations in today's eastern port of Alexandria in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and with the support of the Hilti Foundation.
After an extensive program of electronic surveys and decades of excavation work, the archeologists were able to create an accurate map of the harbor floor and locate numerous archaeological remains buried under the sediment. They also identified important infrastructures, monuments, and a variety of artifacts from the city’s legendary Portus Magnus, revealing the landscape on which they stood.
Goddio and his team developed a complete panorama of the Portus Magnus, although the picture they obtained, sometimes differs from descriptions in ancient texts. That’s why it is essential to scientifically investigate submerged archaeological evidence.
Maritime Archaeology and the Hilti Foundation
The Hilti family’s early engagement of supporting Franck Goddio’s work has been somehow the starting point for the Hilti Foundation. This long-term commitment has enabled Goddio to revolutionize maritime archaeology with innovative research and documentation techniques. As a result, he has succeeded in discovering fascinating sites and sunken cities that had been considered lost for centuries.
Through meticulous sounding using the most modern technical equipment available at that time, Franck Goddio and his team achieved to locate the ancient structures of the port of Alexandria, the legendary "Portus Magnus", in 1996. Over the years, not only the sounding technique as such, but also the excavation and documentation methods have been continuously developed. Goddio's underwater archaeological work has become increasingly focused, allowing evidence of the past to be more specifically located and examined.
The Hilti Foundation has made a lasting contribution to innovation in underwater archaeological research by supporting the work of Franck Goddio and the IEASM for over 25 years. Associated with the goal of making the results accessible to both the scientific community and the broader public.