Pavlopetri, located off the southern coast of Laconia in Greece, is considered the oldest submerged city in the world, dating back around 5,000 years and predating Homeric heroes. The city was first discovered in 1904 by geologist Folkion Negris and later rediscovered in 1967 by Nicholas Flemming, who conducted a survey with a team from the University of Cambridge in 1968. They mapped an area of approximately 300 meters by 150 meters, identifying at least 15 buildings, courtyards, five streets, two tombs, and numerous graves.
Interest in Pavlopetri revived in 2009 with a five-year project involving various research institutions aimed at conducting a detailed underwater archaeological survey. This led to the discovery of an additional 9,000 square meters of structures, including a large building and burial sites, as well as ceramics indicating Mycenaean occupation from about 3000 BCE to 1100 BCE.
The reasons behind Pavlopetri’s submersion remain uncertain, but some speculate it may have been caused by an earthquake around 1000 BCE or 375 CE. As the oldest known sunken city, Pavlopetri has sparked theories about its connection to Plato’s allegory of Atlantis, though its true history remains an intriguing mystery.
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