
Marine archaeologists have discovered a previously unknown underwater settlement off the coast of Cyprus, dating back approximately 9,000 years. The site lies 18 meters below sea level and includes stone foundations, circular dwellings, and evidence of early agriculture. Researchers believe the area was once a coastal plain that was submerged by rising sea levels after the last ice age. The discovery challenges existing theories about the spread of early farming communities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Among the finds are obsidian tools, grain storage pits, and a series of carved stone markers that may represent one of the earliest known forms of symbolic communication. The team plans to use underwater LiDAR and photogrammetry to create a full 3D map of the site.