Archaeologists make stunning underwater find in searching for Cleopatra's missing tomb
Archaeologist Kathleen Martínez has spent more than 20 years of her career attempting to track down Cleopatra's final resting place
Archaeologists have made a stunning underwater discovery that leads us one huge step further to solving one of the most elusive mysteries in Egyptian history - Cleopatra's tomb.
The remains of a ginormous submerged port were found near Taposiris Magna, an ancient temple complex about 30 miles west of Alexandria, by archaeologist Kathleen Martínez and famed Titanic discoverer Bob Ballard.
They located the ancient harbour around 40 feet below the Mediterranean Sea, and found stone buildings more than six metres high, consisting of columns, cement blocks, anchors, and even shiny floors.
The existence of the port, which was previously attached to Taposiris Magna, suggests the ancient complex, established by Pharaoh Ptolemy, was more than just a religious site.
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Dominican archaeologist Martínez has spent more than 20 years of her career researching and attempting to track down Cleopatra's final resting place, and her theories stray away from the traditional view that she was buried in Alexandria.
Instead, Martínez says all the evidence points to Taposiris Magna.
In 2022, the archaeological expert's theory was strengthened by her team's discovery of a 4,300 foot tunnel underneath the complex's temple, the Great Tomb of Osiris, dedicated to Osiris, a god of death and resurrection.
Underneath the temple's ruins, they found jars and ceramics carved deep into the rock, which date back to the time of Cleopatra, Archaeology News reports.
Now, the submerged harbour appears to be aligned with the tunnel, suggesting an integrated network that could have been used for the queen's burial.
Working alongside famed oceanographer Bob Ballard, known for locating the Titanic, Martínez and her team carried out sonar scans and diving missions to chart the seafloor. Their efforts uncovered traces of long-past seafaring activity, including storage facilities for fishermen and clearly artificial constructions.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities later announced the discovery, presenting it as evidence of significant maritime operations at the site during the Ptolemaic period.
The discovery also links with historical accounts, with Cleopatra believed to have been buried with her Roman lover Mark Antony, after they both died in 30 BCE following the Battle of Actium, but neither of them have ever been located in Alexandria.
Given the fact that a massive earthquake and tsunami in 365 CE sank much of the city’s royal quarter, and shifted along the coast, it likely pulled parts of Taposiris Magna into the sea too.
Martínez suggests that Cleopatra, determined to avoid falling into Roman hands, may have arranged a secret tomb beyond Octavian’s reach. Choosing a location rich in symbolism and shielded from natural threats would have allowed her to safeguard both her and Antony’s legacy from Roman control.
The team's findings will soon be shown in a National Geographic documentary called Cleopatra’s Final Secret, airing on 25 September.
Topics: Archaeology, Ancient Egypt
Emma Rosemurgey