Oricum 2016 - Ancient quarries (ALBANIA)

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Modern Albania conceals a multitude of forgotten archaeological treasures, one of which is the ancient city of Oricum, where a pivotal yet enigmatic event in Julius Caesar's meteoric rise to dominance unfolded. The communist era, which effectively isolated the country for most of the 20th century, inadvertently preserved this captivating site until today, as archaeologists have only recently embarked on their research. The team of researchers from the University of Geneva and the Albanian Institute enlisted the expertise of the Octopus Foundation to conduct a thorough search in the surrounding sea and lagoon for ancient structures. Following the successful 2016 mission, the Octopus Foundation is pleased to unveil a precise model of the ancient quarries, which served as the city's primary economic activity. The exquisite white limestone extracted from the Karaburun peninsula was highly prized by Roman stonecutters. A 3D model showcases that a significant portion of the coastline was skillfully extracted by the stonecutters of yesteryear. For more information about this groundbreaking project, please visit noctopusfoundation.org/en.