Turkey Deploys Robotic Archaeologist for Deep Sea Work

Why this is here: The robot can operate underwater for up to ten hours at a depth of 300 meters, significantly extending the time researchers can spend exploring submerged sites.

Turkish scientists from Akdeniz University launched a robotic archaeologist capable of diving to 300 meters. The robot recently underwent testing near Antalya, Turkey, at the Üçadalar islands. It successfully descended to 300 meters and spent up to ten hours removing sediment from the seabed.

The machine features a specialized vacuum to clear away layers of plant, animal, and other debris that accumulate on the ocean floor. This allows researchers to access artifacts obscured by sediment and explore areas previously unreachable by human divers. Coastal erosion and tectonic activity have submerged archaeological sites along Turkey’s shoreline.

Hakan Öniz notes current underwater archaeologists face limitations due to decompression requirements, restricting dives to twice daily. While the robot is theoretically capable of reaching depths of 3,000 meters, its practical range remains to be fully explored. Researchers plan to continue testing and refining the technology for future underwater excavations.