Ancient Underwater City Unearthed Off Coast of Senegal

Mosaic depicting a bustling marketplace with people in colorful clothing

Dakar, Senegal - March 10, 2024  A team of marine archaeologists from Senegal and the United States have made a groundbreaking discovery off the coast of southern Senegal - a submerged metropolis unlike any ever seen before.  Initial carbon dating places the city's origins  between 1,500 and  2,000 years ago.

The  previously unknown civilization  appears to have thrived  thanks to a combination of advanced  maritime  skills and a  sophisticated understanding of  aquaculture.  Drone surveys  revealed a network of  canals  connecting  harbor  facilities with  expansive  underwater  farms.  Divers documented  elaborate  stone structures,  including  multi-story  buildings  adorned with  intricate  mosaic  artworks  depicting  scenes  of  daily  life  and  maritime  trade.

"The level of  sophistication  is  astonishing,"  commented Dr.  Aissa  Diallo,  lead  archaeologist  from  Senegal's  Cheikh Anta Diop University.  "The  mosaic  artwork  depicts  a  highly  organized  society  with  a  thriving  maritime  economy  and  a  deep  appreciation  for  art  and  culture."

The  discovery  is  rewriting  the  narrative  of  West African  history.  Previously,  the  region  during  this  period  was  thought  to  be  comprised  of  scattered  hunter-gatherer  societies.  "This  find  challenges  our  understanding  of  West African  civilization,"  stated  Dr.  Matthew  Dawson,  co-lead  archaeologist  from  Columbia  University.  "It  suggests  a  previously  unknown  maritime  power  existed  in  the  region."

The  unearthing  of  the  underwater  city  is  expected  to  spark  a  flurry  of  international  archaeological  collaboration.  The  UN  Educational,  Scientific  and  Cultural  Organization  (UNESCO)  has already  pledged  support  for  the  excavation  and  preservation  efforts.

"This  discovery  is  a  treasure  trove  for  humanity,"  declared  UNESCO  Director-General  Audrey  Azoulay.  "It  sheds  light  on  an  important  lost  chapter  in  African  history  and  highlights  the  ingenuity  of  our  ancestors."

The  unearthing  of  this  underwater  city  promises  to  unveil  a  wealth  of  information  about  a  lost  civilization  and  recast  our  understanding  of  West African  history.  As  excavation  efforts  progress,  the  world  waits  with  bated  breath  to  learn  more  about  the  people  who  built  this  remarkable  underwater  metropolis.