Beneath the Waves: University of Alexandria

Alexandria — In a groundbreaking fusion of history and high technology, marine archaeologists at the University of Alexandria (UAlex) have successfully mapped a massive, previously unknown palace complex submerged in the Bay of Aboukir.

Dating back to the late Ptolemaic Period (circa 1st century BCE), the structure is believed to have been a royal retreat during the reign of Cleopatra VII. The discovery was made possible using a new, non-invasive artificial intelligence system that “sees” through centuries of marine sediment.

Piercing the Murky Depths with AI

For decades, the shifting sands and murky waters of the Mediterranean have kept these ruins hidden. Traditional sonar could only capture blurry outlines of the seabed.

To overcome this, the UAlex engineering and archaeology departments co-developed Neptune-Eye, an AI-powered LiDAR and sonar array. The technology filters out water movement, biological growth, and layers of silt in real-time, generating highly detailed 3D holographic reconstructions of the ruins.

The results have stunned the scientific community:

• The Royal Promenade: A 200-meter paved walkway lined with fallen red granite columns.

• The Temple of Isis-Pharia: A pristine temple foundation containing intact ceremonial pottery and bronze offerings.

• The Royal Archives Vault: A heavily sealed stone chamber that researchers hope might contain water-logged papyri preserved in anaerobic mud.

Rewriting Ptolemaic History

The layout of the newly discovered complex challenges several long-held theories about Alexandria’s ancient coastline and its sudden plunge into the sea due to earthquakes and tidal waves in the 8th century CE.

Historical Assumptions vs. New Discoveries