Archaeologists are using an innovative deep sea diving suit called the Exosuit when they dive to an ancient shipwreck that was home to a very remarkable object, the Antikythera Mechanism.
[Image Courtesy of American Museum of Natural History] The Antikythera Mechanism is thought to be the oldest computer in the world, a device from the 2nd century BC, found by divers looking for sponges just off a remote island in Greece in the Aegean Sea. The mechanism is very complex and features as many as 40 bronze gears and cogs which the Greeks uses to help keep track of the cycle of the solar system. It’s believed that it wasn’t until 1500 years later before another sophisticated astrological clock was made in Europe
. [Image Courtesy of American Museum of Natural History] Archaeologists will be making another dive to the wreck wearing an up to date high tech diving suit. This means they will be able to dive at more than double the depth they can now, along with remaining on the bottom of the sea for a lot longer. The idea for the Exosuit came from Nuytco Research in Canada and when wearing the suit, divers will be able to go down to 150 metres. Archaeologist Theotokis Theodoulou said that divers will still be able to undertake delicate tasks despite the fact that the suit looks like a cumbersome and puffy space suit. He told the team that have set off to Antikythera that it will expand their capabilities; they will be able to dig, grasp and pluck for several hours at a time. The Greek island dive site is situated between Crete and Peloponnese. 
[Image Courtesy of American Museum of Natural History] It is thought that there are still many artefacts lying undiscovered in the wreck and previously, divers only had the equipment to operate at up to 60 meters depth. The mechanism was lying alongside a bronze statue of a youth in the wreckage of the ship and researchers believe there could be many other treasures on-board that haven’t yet been discovered yet. “We have good signs that there are other objects present,” said Angeliki Simosi, head of Greece’s directorate of underwater antiquities, after exploratory dives in the area in 2012 and 2013. “There are dozens of items left, this was a ship bearing immense riches from Asia Minor,” added archaeologist Dimitris Kourkoumelis. Divers are hoping to be able to confirm another shipwreck around 250 meters away from the original site. The Greek island of Antikythera was one of the busiest trade routes at one time. The team is going to be helped by a Woods Hole Oceanographic expert, Brendan Foley; he was among the divers who dove down to the wreck of the Titanic. He has been involved in identifying many ancient wrecks during the last five years. The expedition will also be equiped with other high tech devices such as robot mapping equipment and advanced closed-circuit re-breathers. These should allow the diving team to spend more time at the site. The new equipment means that divers can spend an extra 30 minutes at the bottom of the ocean each day along with having greater mental acuity and greater safety margins. Via [PHYS.org] - See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/divers-use-high-tech-exosuit-to-explore-the-antikythera-wreck/#sthash.dgUZlN56.dpuf
[Image Courtesy of American Museum of Natural History] The Antikythera Mechanism is thought to be the oldest computer in the world, a device from the 2nd century BC, found by divers looking for sponges just off a remote island in Greece in the Aegean Sea. The mechanism is very complex and features as many as 40 bronze gears and cogs which the Greeks uses to help keep track of the cycle of the solar system. It’s believed that it wasn’t until 1500 years later before another sophisticated astrological clock was made in Europe. [Image Courtesy of American Museum of Natural History] Archaeologists will be making another dive to the wreck wearing an up to date high tech diving suit. This means they will be able to dive at more than double the depth they can now, along with remaining on the bottom of the sea for a lot longer. The idea for the Exosuit came from Nuytco Research in Canada and when wearing the suit, divers will be able to go down to 150 metres. Archaeologist Theotokis Theodoulou said that divers will still be able to undertake delicate tasks despite the fact that the suit looks like a cumbersome and puffy space suit. He told the team that have set off to Antikythera that it will expand their capabilities; they will be able to dig, grasp and pluck for several hours at a time. The Greek island dive site is situated between Crete and Peloponnese. [Image Courtesy of American Museum of Natural History] It is thought that there are still many artefacts lying undiscovered in the wreck and previously, divers only had the equipment to operate at up to 60 meters depth. The mechanism was lying alongside a bronze statue of a youth in the wreckage of the ship and researchers believe there could be many other treasures on-board that haven’t yet been discovered yet. “We have good signs that there are other objects present,” said Angeliki Simosi, head of Greece’s directorate of underwater antiquities, after exploratory dives in the area in 2012 and 2013. “There are dozens of items left, this was a ship bearing immense riches from Asia Minor,” added archaeologist Dimitris Kourkoumelis. Divers are hoping to be able to confirm another shipwreck around 250 meters away from the original site. The Greek island of Antikythera was one of the busiest trade routes at one time. The team is going to be helped by a Woods Hole Oceanographic expert, Brendan Foley; he was among the divers who dove down to the wreck of the Titanic. He has been involved in identifying many ancient wrecks during the last five years. The expedition will also be equiped with other high tech devices such as robot mapping equipment and advanced closed-circuit re-breathers. These should allow the diving team to spend more time at the site. The new equipment means that divers can spend an extra 30 minutes at the bottom of the ocean each day along with having greater mental acuity and greater safety margins. Via [PHYS.org] - See more at: http://interestingengineering.com/divers-use-high-tech-exosuit-to-explore-the-antikythera-wreck/#sthash.dgUZlN56.dpuf
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