It takes years of study to gain the skills needed to become an underwater archaeologist. Luckily for those of us who haven’t pursued this scholarly profession, there are quite a few places around the world where we can escape reality with a look into the past. While many archaeological dive sites involve shipwrecks, there are several that provide views at sunken civilizations. One such site is Macedonia’s Ohrid Underwater Museum, where you can travel 4,000 years back in time.
Plicha Michov Grad (Ohrid Underwater Museum)
This unique site is open between May and September annually, and all necessary equipment is available on site. You’re welcome to bring your own if you like. Once you arrive, you’ll be provided with a lecture that includes a history lesson and a dive briefing. Participants are typically split into groups; non-divers go snorkeling, beginners stick together, and experienced divers buddy up.
At the Bay of Bones, you’ll view a reconstructed pile dwelling settlement like the ones that were located here between 1200 and 700 BCE. Nearby, you’ll find a reconstructed Roman Castrum military fortification; these are available for topside tours. You’ll walk through these areas and learn about the sights you’re about to see once the snorkeling or diving portion of the tour begins.
The remains of wooden piles that once supported the original Ohrid settlement can be viewed; the Bay of Bones features depths between three and five meters, and in all, archaeologists have found approximately 6,000 wooden pilings here. In addition to the remains of the ancient structures, the site features stone artifacts, a huge concentration of ceramic fragments and animal bones, stag antlers, sacrificial altars, and tools that were used every day for such mundane tasks as laundering clothing.
Evidence that shows how the lake’s shape has changed over time can also be seen. For example, the remains of flagstone roads near the Kalishta monastery, Radozhda village, and other points can be seen, along with the remains of architectonic buildings comprised of walls and floors, and paved stockyards where animals such as sheep and goats were once kept.
Skiffs and boats of various types also litter the lake bottom, as do heaps of amphorae that went down with the vessels when they capsized. While many of the best examples of artifacts from the lake bottom have been recovered and are now housed in onshore buildings, almost the entire bottom of the lakebed is liberally littered with remnants of past civilizations. It is important to note that no materials may be removed from the lake; it is vital that the artifacts located here remain in place both for their preservation and for future visitors to enjoy.
Macedonia’s Ohrid Underwater Museum is open to all divers and non-divers alike. Snorkeling is available, and there is plenty to see topside as well as below the surface. If you’re eager to take a day trip that’s unlike any other you’ve taken in the past, grab your favorite traveling companions and head to Ohrid. You’ll be amazed at what you find there.