Home Podcasts Maritime Archaeology: Research from the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA)

Maritime Archaeology: Research from the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA)

Oxford University 9 Episodes May 21, 2026

This podcast series presents the fascinating discoveries and results from ongoing archaeological research underwater in the sunken ancient cities off the coast of Egypt. The Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA) was established in 2003 as a collaborative venture by the School of Archaeology at the University of Oxford, the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), and the Hilti Foundation. It serves as a centre of expertise for maritime archaeology at the University.

Episodes

Lead tokens from Antirhodos Island in Alexandria May 21, 2026 1434 Perhaps the largest known provenanced collection of lead tokens from Roman Egypt was uncovered around the Iseum on Antirhodos Island in Alexandria. What were they possibly used for? Among the remarkable finds from the excavations of the Iseum around the royal island of Antirhodos in today's eastern harbour of Alexandria, the IEASM has uncovered over 250 lead tokens. This corpus contributes conside

Lamps in the Portus Magnus of Alexandria: New lights from the Antirhodos Iseum Mar 16, 2026 1392 A substantial amount of pottery lamps was recovered in the port of Alexandria, particularly among the ruins of the Iseum on the sunken island of Antirhodos. They represent a unique assemblage. Those pottery lamps coming from the debris of the Iseum’s destruction, dating from the late first century BC to the mid-first century AD, are of special value for their quality, quantity, state of preservati

The rigging material from a Roman shipwreck in Alexandria Feb 6, 2026 795 The excavation of a large Roman freighter in the port of Alexandria revealed a rich collection of rigging fittings. Alexander Belov presents the interesting research results. During excavations inside the port of the royal island of Antirhodos in the Portus Magnus of Alexandria, the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) discovered a large freighter with a reconstructed length of 30

Two temples and a princess Nov 11, 2025 811 What can we learn from the remains of two temples in the Portus Magnus of Alexandria? Franck Goddio and Damian Robinson talk latest research results and share updates on the condition of the team’s support vessel, Princess Duda. Franck Goddio, President of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) and Damian Robinson, Director of the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA)

The temple to Poseidon in the Portus Magnus of Alexandria Nov 3, 2025 3331 Franck Goddio presents his research on the remains of a large religious complex in the Portus Magnus of Alexandria. The existence of a temple to Poseidon is mentioned by Strabo in his description of the Portus Magnus of Alexandria: “Next to the Poseidium, which is an arm projecting from the so-called Emporion, on which is a temple of Poseidon…” (Geogr. 17, 1,9). In this lecture Franck Goddio prese

J3: A Roman ship's boat from the Portus Magnus of Alexandria Mar 10, 2025 3885 A small Roman boat was discovered in the port of Alexandria. Why was it transporting a large iron anchor at the moment it sank? Professor Damian Robinson presents this fascinating and rare find. J3, a small boat around 6 meters long, was discovered by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) in the eastern harbour of Alexandria, the ancient Portus Magnus. The boat, dating to the 1

Underwater photography and maritime archaeology Dec 16, 2024 2497 Fascinating images that offer a glimpse into ancient Egypt: Photographer Christoph Gerigk talks about his work in the sunken ancient cities off the coast of Egypt and the challenges and developments in underwater photography. Fascinating images that offer a glimpse into ancient Egypt: Photographer Christoph Gerigk talks about his work in the sunken ancient cities off the coast of Egypt and the cha

The Portus Magnus of Alexandria: 25 years of underwater archaeological research Oct 22, 2024 4154 The ancient Portus Magnus of Alexandria with its sunken royal quarter was once home to historical figures Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. Franck Goddio discusses his many years of exploration at the site and some key discoveries. Since the early 1990s Franck Goddio and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM), in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and the Hilti F

Underwater archaeology: 20 years of collaboration between OCMA and IEASM Oct 21, 2024 2577 Egypt's sunken ancient cities have been the fieldwork project of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) since 1992. Franck Goddio discusses key finds and the creation of Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology. Franck Goddio, president of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) and Damian Robinson, director of the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA) ta

Maritime Archaeology: Research from the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology (OCMA)

Episodes

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