How to Turn an Archaeologist Into an Underwater Iron Man - IEEE Spectrum
It used to be that all an archaeologist needed was a fedora hat and a bullwhip. Today’s professionals, however, have much more sophisticated gear. This month, marine archaeologists exploring an ancient Greek shipwreck tried out a high-tech “exosuit” for the first time, sending divers to the seafloor in something that resembles a spacesuit.
The first people to explore the Antikythera shipwreck, off the coast of Greece, were sponge divers practicing their trade in the year 1900. Diving in heavy suits and copper helmets, and breathing air through a hose from the surface, they stayed on the seafloor for only a few minutes at a time. Nonetheless, they discovered wonders such as the Anitkythera Mechanism, a geared gadget used by the ancient Greeks to predict astronomical events.
When Jacques Cousteau returned to the site in 1976 he used scuba gear to search the wreck in 10-minute dives, and brought up heaps of treasure: bronze coins, parts of marble statues, ceramic vessels, and more. But because the shipwreck rests on the seabed about 60 meters (200 feet) down, where the water pressure is intense, Cousteau had to limit his time at the bottom to avoid getting decompression sickness when he came back up.
More: How to Turn an Archaeologist Into an Underwater Iron Man - IEEE Spectrum