ISLE OF DIA - 2007

Isle of Dia. The discovery is reported of a Byz naval stronghold, belonging to the time of the recovery of Crete from the Arabs for Byzantium by Nikiphoros Phokas (ca. 960 AD). The site is impressively large, running out from the present shoreline into the waters to a d. of 22m. A little further out, in 30m of water, the reasonably well-preserved remains of a boat, possibly Byz, have been located.

Other underwater exploration off Dia has produced hundreds of amphorae of all dates: these and examples recovered earlier by Cousteau are being processed in the Ven fort in the old harbour of Herakleion.