This real amphora story is the result of several years research. Ourstarting point is Gazikoy whose ancient name is Ganos It is 30 km's fromSharkoy and is in the southwest of Tekirdag.

According to the ancient Greek geographer Strabon, who lived between65 BC and 23 AD, Ganos was built by the Greeks and was a small colony.In those times it's name meant Sacred Mountain and sailors who had passedmedieval times the island was known for it's monastery. In the 13th centurythe Bishop lived here and in the 14th century it took on an important rolewhen it became a city. After the conquest of Istanbul, Ganos became partof the Ottoman Empire. While I was doing my research I often wondered whathad happened to all the ships loaded with amphoras which had passed byhere. My research took me to all the museums from Trabzon to Antakya, andit was during this time that i found the answer. They had all gone to theports in the Black Sea or Mediterranean.

The north, north-east and south-west, winds all pass over HoshkOy andGazikoy islands, and August 27th 1993 is no exception. I leave Tekirdagby ferryboat with a photographer and set off towards the Marmara island.When we step onto the island the notorious local winds blow to greet us.Despite the bad weather conditions we still manage to dive as we have intendedand find our first ship-wreck.

Reshit Mazhar Ertuzun who wrote the historical novel "KapIdag and herislands" said that the Marmara Island's first name had been Elafonesoswhich meant deer. He also wrote that the island was given the new nameof prokonnessos. However nobody knows when she took the name of MarmaraIsland, but we understand that it comes from the word "marble" which theItalian sailors gave her.

On the island we can still see traces of her ancient and recent history.If ever you are passing, you should visit Asmah village and Dr. NushinAsgeri's open-air museum which is famous for it's marble art. If you goduring the summer months and if you are thirsty you must have a glass of"guest water".

The next day my friend and I find 2 ship-wrecks on our 4th dive. Theships had sunk because of hitting the islands. The following day we setsail and my friend, who is becoming impatient to find the amphora mountain,and 1 prepare to dive again.

At first we can not see anything, but as we go deeper we see somethingdark. Yes, here they are! Hundreds of Ganos amphoras. While I am thinkinghow huge our find is, realize that this it not, in fact, the ship we havebeen looking for. So we start to deeper. This time I am shocked to seethousands of them. As I continue to swim, the number grows until finallyI can see nothing but amphoras and I am shaking at the scale of our find.

Now we are going return the surface and tell you about, these amphoraswhich belong to all of us.