Illustration: Titina Chalmatzi.
How will be the future of archaeology; "If you like the police series, I would say that it looks like the CSI. The cutting-edge technology will play a very big role in this collection, analysis of data from robot until DNA analyses. But nothing can be done without the same archaeologists who toil, researching, who are passionate about their work, giving instructions and directions». Brendan Foley, the archaeologist and diver who had a key role in international research mission in the Antikythera wreck, sitting opposite me at a table with Prime views. We're rooftop akrobolismenoi hotel in Plaka Athens and we see illuminated the Parthenon.
The American who lives in Sweden, found recently in Athens, for the official presentation of the first results of this year's dives, in the hull of the mechanism. Incidentally the last ten years of visits to our country is dense as it works closely with the Ephorate of underwater Antiquities.
In October 2014, the team in which he participated, He managed to complete a detailed photographic survey of the seabed in the vicinity of the wreck and to bring certain findings, Despite the fact that the weather was not an ally. There was also the world's first "space" skafandroy's Exosuit that stole the show. In May, the mission will return with bigger ambitions for finding great works of art and objects, as there are numerous indications for rich harvest from the seabed. Indeed, will be done and a fieldwork in Kythira, at the point where it had sunk the ship mentor which had Charter the Elgin to transfer the sculptures of the Parthenon.
The Brendan is one of the most common Irish names, of I spotted, starting the conversation. «H my family has roots from Ireland» answers. "My great-grandfather immigrated to America at the beginning of the previous century. Ten years ago, I went with my father to the village from which they come. We found a tiny House with a room that does not chwroysame to stand upright. You understand immediately that it was impossible to survive people in such harsh conditions and foreign lands was one way. His great-grandfather settled near Boston and became a COP ".
The MIT experience
Continues: "I grew up next to the ocean. EHO experiential relationship with the sea. When I was a teenager, We had a boat with engine with my friends and was entertained. A little later, I started and diving. At that time would be katatagw in the Navy and serve on submarines. But in a wrestling match, caused great damage to my neck and I could not be admitted into the army. Eventually I decided to study history and archaeology. I continued with nautical and economic history. During my studies, a Professor urged me to follow the path of submarine archaeology. I plunged into a sunken ship of 1690. For you Greeks, It's not very old, but in America we don't have ancient. I had another great chance: Both met and teamed up with Bob Ballard who had found the wreck of the Titanic, on the other hand I completed my studies with a doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute».
Mr. Foley speaks with enthusiasm and passion for the MIT: "This experience has changed my whole life. Is the part that helps to do the craziest your dream reality. Go to your teacher and say: "I got this completely crazy idea and I want to see if I could implement". And he'll answer: "Perfect. The University will do what,what it can to help you with know-how, resources and tips ". Today, so many years after my graduation, I meet with my fellow students. Everyone is top in a field. And through our discussions, find incredible solutions to scientific matters that concern us. One of them e.g.. specializing in investigations of DNA by asking if we have used such techniques in the content of amphorae, that anasyrame from the seabed. Etsi, We could xanaftiaxoyme from ancient recipes of dishes up ancient cosmetics».
Your home can have a brilliant future
At Mit, Mr. Foley learned what that reflects the American educational and working model: «The Pan is the team spirit. Can you have your own designs but always talk about cooperation, for overall goals. Nobody in respect if peristrefesai around yourself, as smart and if you're. Sometimes I get angry when people say that the Greeks may not work in groups. Is an incorrect stereotype. It is not true. Look at the wonderful work they do in Antikythera. I must tell you that the Theotoki Theodoulou and Dimitri Koyrkoymeli, members of the Inspectorate which supervises today Dr Aggeliki Simosi, We work for about ten years. Are the most hardworking, capable and semnoi associates that I had in my life and this is the most powerful incentive for working in Greece. It's not the great shipwrecks that have, but the great people. Having solid knowledge of Greece, many times I feel that the average Greek believes that the only worthy in the eyes of foreigners is the past. I believe that such a deal is a big mistake and doesn't let you go ahead with a lucid picture of who you are. You have all the supplies and gifts, to be just as proud for your self today. As I said I've known all these years of extraordinary people, with project, which is not often».
Modern Paris; Brendan Foley who is married to Swedish and lives for many years in Scandinavia, embodies a model that has been eclipsed lately: the man who has a classical education but with tenderness and trust turns his gaze in modern Greek: "Since the crisis began and after, I'm tired of reading negative things about you in foreign newspapers. Stenachwriomoyn because I knew firsthand the efforts to adapt to new realities, the huge struggle that made. I wanted the Antikythera affair to bring great positive publicity, It might seem that Greece is a country that deserves not for its history but for modern people, scientists, the archaeologists of the. The Greece can have a bright future and I say to whoever I work, my sponsors by Americans until the Australian scientists. It is a belief that we embrace all of us».
I am convinced that there are more treasures in the water
Mr. Foley came for the first time in Greece the 2001. "The Department of Ocean Engineering at MIT, During this period, American head teachers who had wanted to try an underwater robot. It was then that I met Dimitris Koyrkoymeli and Theotoki Theodoulou and we had excellent chemistry. I want to say at this point something about Ephorate of underwater that is a public service. Can in our common projects I contributed to in part I of the technology but the training, the knowledge and passion they have for their job, is what counts in all our decisions. So with the members and with the superiors of have a very fruitful collaboration. It is not only identified a wreck but how will elicit the necessary information. What it tells us about the load, the circumstances of the accident, the whole season. This is the main aim of submarine archaeology on our days and served this purpose anymore with the contribution of the last word of technology, as we saw in the Antikythera. Etsi, in this case we created a revolutionary model fwtomwsaϊko by joining thousands of photos pulled on the bottom the robot. This map helps us to work even when we are apart of water, observing the morphology of the seafloor and placing there the findings».
The financing
Mr. Foley apart from introducing new technology, distinguished and in another field. Tries and-in bespoke- He manages to find and finance for the needs of research in Greece. "I'll tell you what the American logic to such projects. More importantly for the scientist and the researcher is to see in the future, letting his imagination to guide him in the study or research, thinking of what is the desired outcome and not thinking whether there will be money to implement everything she wants. Because it puts the same obstacles to himself, brake abilities, the subjects in the budget. And where will they find the money; In America we believe that great ideas eventually find and great financing while small ideas find, respectively, small economic response. It has been bathyploytoys to meet people who want to learn what is our project to see if it will help. All times ask for little money, I left the Office with the sense that the apogoiteysa and ate the time for micro. All times went enthusiastic, asking for large sums, describing very ambitious and difficult designs, most of the time I had a positive response. To find funders should do to feel involved in a lot of effort, in a dream that will come true».
And how found on Antikythera; "When I came to Greece, I must admit that I had not intended to focus on the sinking. I didn't care a Roman hull but much more old boats, because my goal was to see how it started shipping, to understand the basic principles, to learn how people of the second Millennium b.c.. dared to try their luck at sea. But my fellow Greeks, convinced me the enormous importance of the wreck. The mechanism is only an indication of the colossal importance but not the only. I am convinced that there are more treasures in the water. Mention a few clues. We found this year a huge anchor that is changing our view of the size of the ship, that must have been much more big than what we originally. So far they have identified several residues of human skeletons, that means that there were many passengers, thing very scarce for the ancient years. We must therefore was a huge boat that ferried cereals. The Symiakoi and the Cousteau is not dug but gathered what,what they found on the surface. We will do regular excavation and will investigate in greater RADIUS. The Antikythera wreck is the most important that has ever been discovered, Thanks to new technology experts will have an excellent scientific approach to findings».
Mr. Foley believes that sending in Antikythera will open a new road for the underwater archaeology in our country. "Our ultimate goal must be wrecks that lie in very great depths because they multiply the chances to find intact. The investigation will be done by robots. Of course this still requires more funding but if it goes well the survey on the hull of the mechanism, We can dream of the future. I'll tell you one more thing. Archaeology and the protection and enhancement of monuments can be a lever for growth and revenue for the country. Antikythera of 19 residents in my opinion it should be a protected area by UNESCO so as to ensure a better future for them. You can't be dealing with monuments or wrecks and to forget humans».
The meeting
We ate in the restaurant of hotel Electra, on Admiral Nikodimou in Plaka. The view is amazing, the food delicious and the values corresponding to the high level. For starters we got grilled vegetables with mastelo, for main dish a Carpaccio of calf and noodles with chicken fillets. Drank a Santorini Nychteri. The desserts were Chocolate Fudge and cream mprile. The account amounted to 97 Euro.
O j channels of
1968
Born in Boston.
1991
University of New Hampshire. She graduated from the Department of history.
1995
Tufts University. Doing postgraduate studies in naval history.
1996
University of Southampton. Postgraduate studies in Underwater Archaeology.
2001
First visit to Greece, begins the researches in ancient shipwrecks worldwide.
2003
MIT. He gets his doctorate in history of technology.
2012-13
The preparation of research on Antikythera.
2014
The official international mission starts in the famous Antikythera wreck, with the horizon five years.
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