An ancient settlement submerged just off a popular beach in southern Laconia prefecture, best-known for its historic city of Sparta, lies at a depth of three to four metres metres from the surface, according to researchers from the University of Nottingham's acclaimed Underwater Archaeology Research Centre (UARC) and local archaeologists.

   The late Neolithic-era settlement, at the modern-day Pavlopetri site, is dated to at least 2800 BC, and includes intact buildings, courtyards, roads, as well as latter-day chamber tombs believed to belong to the Mycenaean period, all underwater.

   Research and underwater excavation at the site is expected to shed light on the Mycenaean civilisation's coastal cities in the Peloponnese, given that Mycenes was a sea power in the late phase of the Bronze Era.

   The first remnants of the sunken city were discovered and mapped in 1967 by team from Cambridge, headed by Dr. Nicholas Fleming. More than 40 years later, another British team led by Dr. Jon Henderson, will be the first with official access to the area.

   ANA-MPA file photo.