Italian-Greek underwater archaeological mission in Lemnos: New data from the sites of Cape Trigies, the lagoon of Hephaestia, and Agia Efthymia

The three-year underwater archaeological research program on Lemnos island began in May 2022. The Italian-Greek team, composed of the Central Institute for Restoration, the National Superintendency for Underwater Cultural Heritage, the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Lesbos and the Italian Archaeological School at Athens, is participating in the activities. The scientific direction of the mission is provided by Dr. Barbara Davidde (now former Superintendent of the National Superintendency for Underwater Cultural Heritage and Fonctionnaire of the Central Institute for Restoration), Dr. Stavroula Vrachionidou (Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities) and Dr. Pavlos Triantafyllidis (Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Lesbos). The underwater field activities were conducted under the direction of Dr. Salvatore Medaglia (National Superintendency for Underwater Cultural Heritage, 2023 – Central Institute for Restoration, 2024) and Dr. Theotokis Theodoulou (Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities). The multidisciplinary program includes systematic underwater surveys aimed at the topographical study and the assessment of the state of conservation of submerged and semi-submerged coastal sites, particularly the remains of possible harbors and landing places, and the identification and study of ancient wrecks. During the works, instrumental surveys, geological and bathymorphological seabed mapping, graphic and photographic documentation, archaeological and state of preservation cataloging, direct and indirect surveying, photogrammetry, and 3D reconstructions were carried out. This paper presents a preview of the underwater research carried out at three of the many sites under investigation: the sarcophagus wreck of Cape Trigies, the site of Agia Efthymia, and the lagoon of Hephaestia.