Divers searching for a lost car underneath the busy ferry quay at Rhodes, Greece, came across a dozen large pottery vessels from the Byzantine era, six of which still had their seals intact.

The amphorae were retrieved from a depth of 15m and handed over to the Greek antiquities department to be analysed by archaeologists. No date has yet been established for the amphorae, but the port of Rhodes, strategically positioned at the north-east tip of the island in the Aegean Sea, has been a major trading port since the city was established in 400BC.

Amphorae were commonly used by the Romans and the Byzantines to transport liquids such as wine and oil, so the vessels could date back as far as 300BC, but are most likely to be 11th or 12th century. Amphorae are much-sought collectors items and a thriving market exists for the artefacts.

In the past divers around Greece have been responsible for removing and selling many amphorae, and as a consequence disrupting and destroying many archaeologically important sites around the coast. Consequently, the Greek authorities enforced some draconian legislation to protect their heritage; effectively banning diving in all areas other than permitted sites.

Many of these restrictions are due to be lifted in 2004, providing a major boost for diving tourism. However, the protection of archaeological finds will continue to be an issue with divers forbidden to remove any items from dive sites without permission.

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