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Athens News Agency The Culture Ministry intends to designate a shipwreck off the tiny uninhabited Cycladic isle of Polyaigos, in the central Aegean, as a "underwater archaeological site" after completion of an initial examination of finds that surfaced during recent marine digs, according to a ministry announcement. 
Divers on the maritime excavations in November 2009 recovered vases dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries BC from depths of 25-49 meters off the coast of Polyaigos.Aquatic archaeologists brought up such artifacts as amphorae used for carrying, and small table ceramic vases, all intact, as well as fragments of the shipwrecked vessel's anchor. A team from the the underwater antiquities Ephoreia comprised of archaeologist-divers Elias Spondylis, George Koutsouflakis and Efstathios Stathis, depth technicians Petros Tsampourakis and Ludwig Mersenier, and underwater photographer/cinematographer Vassilis Mentoyiannis, in November made an initial exploration of the wreck site, which had been spotted in 2004. The ancient vessel was loaded with amphorae, which are scattered around the wreck in two main concentrations. An analysis of the amphorae recovered dated the wreck to between the end of the 5th century BC and the first half of the 4th century BC. At least three types of amphorae were identified, of which one originated from ancient Peparithos (the island of Skopelos), while the others were closely identified with Classical Era amphorae workshops of the northern Aegean. Four of the intact amphorae recovered were pointed-bottom carrying vessels, while the other two intact amphorae were smaller ceramic table vases. Fragments of the ship's anchor were also found. According to the ministry, the Polyaigos shipwreck sheds light in the study of sea-borne commercial routes of the Classical period and the movement of goods in the southwestern part of the Cyclades island chain. The shipwreck was photographed in detail, resulting in a high-definition photo-mosaic, and also filmed, while procedures have been set in motion to designate the area as an underwater archaeological site. Polyaigos lies near the islands of Milos and Kimolos. Its name means "many goats", given that it is inhabited only by flocks of goats -- belonging to shepherds from nearby Milos and Kimolos -- that roam its two mountains, Stroggylos, which rises to 330 meters, and Psilo Vouno (meaning 'high mountain'), which rises to 370 meters. Although barren due to grazing by the livestock, Polyaigos has a sprinkling of breathtaking beaches, mainly on the southern coast of the island, but also a large number of sea-surface caves that are home to a population of the Monachus monachus Mediterranean monk seal, one of the most endangered species of mammals in the world.
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