The Marsa Bagoish Underwater Project

Dr. Emad Khalil
Professor of Maritime Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University

Abstract
This presentation will introduce the Marsa Bagoush Underwater Project and its most recent discoveries.The site of Marsa Bagoush (ancient Zygris) was mentioned in the 3rd century AD Roman navigation guidebook Stadiasmus Maris Magni, which stated that “From Leuce Acte to Zygris 90 stadia; there is an islet; put into the place with it on your left; there is water in the sand.”

In the late 1990s, the Institute of Nautical Archaeology – Egypt, conducted a limited archaeological survey of Marsa Bagoush, which resulted in the discovery of amphorae. Since 2015, with the support of the Honor Frost Foundation, the  Alexandria University Centre for Maritime Archaeology & Underwater Cultural Heritage has been excavating this site. This work has provided evidence for seafaring activities which date to the Hellenistic Period, as well as information regarding changes in the geomorphology of the coastline since antiquity. The recent work confirms the ancient Roman descriptions, and suggests that the site was used as an anchorage at least as early as the Roman Period.

Speaker Bio
Dr. Emad Khalil is the Professor of Maritime Archaeology, Vice-Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, and Executive Director for the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Faculty of Arts at Alexandria University.