“These antiquities have uncovered a world I used to think only existed in literary books, as if I suddenly moved to the world of novels, overwhelmed by a feeling that I am swimming and flying over a real Atlantis,” said the French writer Claude Sintes, summarizing the results of his participation in the archaeological excavations in Libya during the 1980s.

“These antiquities have uncovered a world I used to think only existed in literary books, as if I suddenly moved to the world of novels, overwhelmed by a feeling that I am swimming and flying over a real Atlantis,” said the French writer Claude Sintes, summarizing the results of his participation in the archaeological excavations in Libya during the 1980s.

Studies conducted by Western scholars confirm that the bottom of the sea off the Libyan coast is rich with submerged archaeological remains, such as shipwrecks, ports, and towns that had sunk because of drops in the earth’s crust, due to tectonic movements, earthquakes, and other environmental factors.

Abdulhafiz Najm, head of the Sunken Antiquities Department at Benghazi Antiquities Control Directorate, as well as a diver in operations uncovering a submerged town off the eastern coast of Libya, sheds light on the hidden treasures.

Mr. Najm, you have participated in uncovering the sunken treasures at Ras Tin, east of Derna. Could you tell us about this?

Ras Tin is still a virgin area even though it was declared on the website of an Italian institution in 2009; it is one of the submerged and neglected treasures in Libya.

With the initial inspection, it is believed to be a Roman town dating back to the second century; but proving this needs studies and works for about 50 years.

Can we say some Libyan towns have sunken remains?

Surely. The archeological coastal towns from Ras Ajdir to Musaid, including Leptis Magna, Sabratha, Susa, Tolmeitha, Tocra, Brega, Tripoli and Benghazi, have sunken ruins, such as the foundations of ports and even ports themselves.

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The remains of Tibuda

The entire Libyan coast is even considered the world’s richest coast of human heritage. The recent discoveries of sunken towns, such as Tibuda, the stone structure of Zuwara (west of Libya), and Ras Tin (east of Derna) are only few of many examples.

Can you determine the age of the sunken relics, and does the current situation of the country adversely affect them?

Marine archeology is a nascent science; it is no more than two centuries old since it emerged in the early twentieth century.

Through my work as a diver, I believe that the situation of the archeological towns could get worse if left without attention, especially under the chaos plaguing the country.

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Old harbor of Soussa

However, I am optimistic because there are youth movements that are more open and will gradually raise the society’s awareness about the importance of relics. Any marine archaeologist will perceive Libya as a mythical paradise.

Tell us about the historical and cultural importance of these submerged ruins?

Their historical and cultural importance stems from the fact that they prove that people lived during earlier ages and that civilizations flourished in the region and provided humankind with scientific bases for what followed later. Perhaps what reveals the similarities between the lives of those people and our current life, is the discovery of these sunken towns.

Are there laws that protect underwater human heritage and organize its ownership?

Unfortunately, there are not, due to the lack of legislations or because the applicable laws and regulations are not consistent with the world developments. Submerged ruins form scientific and material curiosity on both national and international levels.

Looting of the submerged cultural human heritage has led to the endangering and even eradication of genuine museums. Therefore, we should think of ways to protect remains, especially Ras Tin site, which is affiliated with Derna and we should urge Derna’s Local Council to develop a plan to protect it and regulate the activities of swimmers and fishermen.

Is it possible to enumerate the underwater antiquities in Libya in order to protect them?

No, because Libya is one of the richest states of antiquities and those existing in it are very old; the world’s oldest mummy – “the black mummy” – is in Libya. Besides, the antiquities in deep seas are harder to discover, because this is an environment completely different from our natural one.

Did the state under Gaddafi neglect the antiquities?

Yes; the field of antiquities was neglected like other fields, and the mechanism of the tourist sector was barren. The regime was the reason.

Libya was not open to the rest of the world. Besides, archeology graduates did not find any appropriate jobs. Most of them worked as freelancers or in the private sector, except for some beneficiaries who had scholarships and could consequently open corrupt channels to sell and trade in relics.

Have Libyan researchers had a prominent role in the field of archeology, or has the active role only been played by foreign researchers?

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Libyan diver

Unfortunately, the discovery of sunken antiquities was restricted to foreign researchers while the Libyan researchers have just assisted them. Besides, Libyans have always been in short of support and sophisticated equipment, such as the sonar, which takes readings of deep-sea places.

In 2006, I was a diver working at a place between Derna and Tobruk. While I was underwater, I saw ancient crockery and lanterns at the edges of the eastern region. I informed many interested people in order to be the first to discover them, but unfortunately nobody cared.

Which is, in your opinion, the body concerned with the protection of antiquities?

I believe it is the Antiquity Directorate, but this will only happen with the existence of tourist police specialized in antiquities, who have the power of the army.

In addition, awareness of the importance of antiquities is very important. We came to know that UNESCO worked on teaching a course in awareness of antiquities for the preparatory and secondary classes. Therefore, I, and a group of volunteers, downloaded it from the Internet and sent it to some schools in order to make students become aware of antiquities. The Ministry of Education should adopt this.