In 2007, the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities launched the program “Survey of the ancient Lesvos harbor network” beginning with the original photographic documentation of the island’s port vestiges.

The following areas have been declared as underwater archaeological sites due to the importance of the harbor installations:

MITHIMNA: ΥΠΠΟ/ΑΡΧ/Α1/Φ43/61208/3233/20.12.1994 (ΦΕΚ 54Β/30.01.1995) and ΥΠΠΟ/ΑΡΧ/Α1/Φ43/61145/3599/9.12.1997 (ΦΕΚ 81/Β/05.02.1998).

AGIOS FOKAS/ ANCIENT VRISSA: ΥΠΠΟ/Φ43/61212/3229/20.12.1994 (ΦΕΚ 31/Β’/20.01.1995).

ERESSOS- ANDISSA: ΥΠΠΟ/ΑΡΧ/Α1/Φ43/21652/1487/12.11.2003 (ΦΕΚ 1769/27.11.2003).

ΜYΤΙLENE: ΥΠΠΟ/ΑΡΧ/Α1/Φ43/61209/3232/20.12.1994 (ΦΕΚ 30/Β’/20.01.1995).

ΚARA TEPE: ΥΠΠΟ/ΑΡΧ/Φ43/44999/2662 π.ε/01.02.1999.

The program continued in 2008 and 2009 with full topographical and architectural surveys of several of these vestiges.
As a result, the submerged port facilities in Molyvos, Eressos, Vrisa (Agios Fokas) have been surveyed and studied. Surveying of the vestiges in Andissa have already begun and further work is planned in 2014 at the closed military harbor of Mytilene (Epano Skala). At the same time, two classic shipwrecks and various other sites with sunken building vestiges and small harbor installations, for example at Mesitziki, Kalloni and Skala Sikamias, have been identified and partly studied.

Study of the material has until now offered many unknown data very helpful in understanding their structural features, while their overall treatment as a network contributes to a better understanding of their functional role.
The recording program was funded in its initial phase by the Port Authority of Lesvos, while the next phase (2014) will be funded by the Region of North Aegean on the basis of an agreement with the Ministry of Culture.

Funding: Ministry of Culture and Sport, Port Authority of Lesvos