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30 Discoveries of Man-Made Items at the Bottom of the Ocean

Have you ever dreamed of finding a buried treasure chest or a sunken ship? You really never know what might be lurking beneath the water. Over the years, divers have stumbled upon some shocking discoveries just like the ones you have dreamed of.

From treasure chests and war planes to hidden ancient cities there are plenty of tremendous things that can be found at the bottom of the deep blue sea. Check out the 30 most interesting discoveries of man-made items that have been found at the bottom of the ocean thus far. 

2,000-Year-Old Greek Computer

2,000-Year-Old Greek Computer

This 2,000 year old greek computer known as the antikythera mechanism was found inside a Roman shipwreck near the Greek island of Antikythera. Scientists believe the device was usedd by ancient Greeks to calculate the movement of the stars and planets. 

Researchers still haven't quite figured out how the Greek device ended up in a Roman shipwreck. Some believe that the ship was transferring a woman of importance to be married in Rome, but who really knows. 

No machine-readable author provided. Marsyas assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Mile-Long Road

A Mile-Long Road

Off the coast of North Bimini Island in the Bahamas, divers found a massive structure made up of limestock rocks. Scientists were shocked at what had been found underwater because the stones spanned a mile straight and the formation seemed to be human created.

Many believed that these were the ruins of an ancient civilization, but others weren't so sure. The origins of these ruins continue to confuse scientists to this day.

(Image via Midjourney)

Uluburun Shipwreck

Uluburun Shipwreck

A diver discovered the Uluburun shipwreck off the southwestern coast of Turkey in 1982. The ship is believed to be from the 14th century BC.

The vessel was full of Egyptian jewels, an Italian sword, and 10 tons of copper. It only took about 22,000 dives to bring the shipwreck to the surface. 

Martin Bahmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

A professor from Northwestern Michigan College discovered a series of stones arranged in a circle 40 feet beneath the surface of Lake Michigan. Some of the stones have a carving of a mastodon. 

Scientists believe that Lake Michigan was once dry, about 9,000 years ago, when the Stonehenge was built. So yes, there is a Stonehenge underwater in Lake Michigan. 

(Image via Adobe)

Ancient City of Shi Sheng

Ancient City of Shi Sheng

The Chinese city of Shi Cheng was flooded in the 1950s. The flood was caused by due to the construction of a hydroelectric powerstation. 

The city is about 85 to 140 feet underwater, and divers are still able to visit the ruins beneath the man-made lake.

(Image via Midjourney)

$50 Million of Gold Bars

$50 Million of Gold Bars

It seems like the most common place to discover gold bars is underwater. Bob Evans, a scientist, discovered a lost treasure of $50 million in gold bars, dust, and gold coins. Can you imagine?! 

Evans diligently removed the rust that had covered the gold after it sank. After years of research, it's believed that the gold sank off the coast of South Carolina aboard the S.S Central America during a hurricane back in 1857.

(Image via Adobe)

Angel at Sunset Lake

Angel at Sunset Lake

In 2001, a diver found the concreate statue of an angel in the bottom of Linton, Indiana's Sunset Lake. 

According to Linton locals, the statue acts as a medium for two children who drowned in the lake in the 1920s. 

(Image via Midjourney)

Sea Gate at Neptune Memorial Reef

Sea Gate at Neptune Memorial Reef

Located off the coast of Miami, Florida, you can find an amazing reef deep underwater. However, it's actually known as a submarine city for the dead.

It might look a little like the Lost City of Atlantis, but it's really just Neptune's Memorial Reef. It was created by Gary Levine and conceived by the artist, Kim Brandell. 

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images

Heart of the Ocean Necklace from the Titanic

Heart of the Ocean Necklace from the Titanic

You've seen The Titanic, right? Remember when Rose drops the "Heart of the Ocean" necklace into the sea at the end of the movie? Well we all just assumed the necklace wasn't real.

Wrong. In 1994, Virginial Clark's 18-karat gold locket was discovered while digging through the remains of the real Titanic. Virginia Clark is the real-life Rose, by the way. 

Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Vanuatu Post Office

Vanuatu Post Office

The Vanuatu Post Office isn't like your typical post office. Located 10 feet underwater off the Hideaway Island marine sanctuary in Oceania is where you will find this unique underwater post office. 

In May 2003, the post office officially opened for business. You better suit up in your diving gear to be abel to experience mailing waterproof postcards though. Good luck, you can tell us all about it!

AFP/Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

Enchanted Forest

Enchanted Forest

About 100 feet underwater you can find an Enchanted Forest in Table Rock Lake, Missouri. 

You can also swim through a small town called Oasis, which used to have about 10 buildings, a general store, and a mill dam. But only do this if you are an experienced diver! 

(Image via Midjourney)

Warship Hamilton

Warship Hamilton

In 1973, the US Navy warship, The Hamilton, was discovered by Daniel Nelson, a dentist from Ontario. The warship's cannons had somehow managed to remain intact after being underwater for 160 years. 

The Hamilton sank on August 8, 1813 and unfortunately took 53 sailors with it. The ship had been buried underwater in Lake Ontario for years.

TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images

Mexican Church

Mexican Church

In the 1770s Dominican monks built a church in the town of Quechula, Mexico. The Mexican government placed a dam in the Grijalva River that submerged the church in the 1960s.

The water levels eventually dropped so much that tourists were able to walk around the sunken church's remains in 2002.

(Image via Adobe)

Two Cars that Might Help Solve Cold Cases

Two Cars that Might Help Solve Cold Cases

In 2013, police officers discovered two cars that had been underwater for nearly 40 years. The officers figured the 1969 Chevy Camero and the 1950s Chevrolet had been stolen orginally, but when they opened the doors you will be shocked to hear what they found.

Inside the cars the officers found three skeletons. They believe the skeletons are linked to cold cases. 

Two Locomotives

Two Locomotives

A train graveyard was discovered by archeologists off the coast of New Jersey. Among the underwater train graveyard were two extremely rare locomotives from the early 1850s. 

Archeologists were stunned by this discovery. There is no record of the two steam engines ever being built or lost. It is still a mystery of how the two locomotives were sunk though there are several different theories.

(Image via Adobe)

F-4 Fighter Plane

F-4 Fighter Plane

Out of all the man-made things people discover underwater, it's crazy that to think something as destructive as an F-4 fighter can be buried in the ocean. The F-4 plane was found off the caost of the Philippines about 130 feet underwater.

Researchers believe that the aircraft was stripped of useful parts and actually pushed off a carrier into the ocean.

I-400 Submarine

I-400 Submarine

A World War II Japanese I-400-class submarine was found off the coast of Hawaii in August 2013. The submarine had been captured and intentionally sunk by U.S. forces. The massive submarine had been lost underwater since 1946. 

The I-400 submarines were the largest submarines ever built before the age of nuclear-powered subs. They were longer than a football field, and could carry up to three seaplane bombers.

(Image via Midjourney)

Tiny Underwater French Town

Tiny Underwater French Town

A tiny French town was built underwater in the 1960s off the coast of the forested Cap d'Antibes peninsula. The town was built specifically for the movie "L'Enfant et la Sirene" ("The Child and the Mermaid). 

However, the filmmakers decided to forgo the use of the underwater town, and opted for a Parisian animtion studio instead. So they left the town underwater and eventually it was forgotten, but it still exists! 

(Image via Midjourney)

German Bomber Plane

German Bomber Plane

In May 2013, the RAF Museum recovered an extint German bomber plane called the Dornier 17 from the ocean. Divers originally found the plane in 2008 near off the coast near Kent, UK. 

Production of the Dornier 17 was halted in the mid 1940s and none were believed to have survived past 1952. 

(Image via Adobe)

The Mythical City of Heracleion

The Mythical City of Heracleion

The city of Heracleion was supposed have been a mythical city, and it was until the year 2000. In 2000, scientists discovered the city of Heracleion in Aboukir Bay near Egypt. The city had been buried under mud and sand, which helped preserve the artifacts.

 

 

IThe city of Heracleion was also known as Thonis by the Egyptians. The mythical city was found 150 feet under water. Guess it's not myth after all. 

Fox Mitchell/Stele of Thonis-Heracleion/CC BY NC 2.0/Flickr

A Troop Carrier

A Troop Carrier

The SS President Coolidge was turned into a troop carrier at the Pearl Harbor bombing. Unfortunately, the troop carrier sank near the coast of Vanuatu when it struck underwater mines.

The ship, along with its treasures, remain at the bottom of the sea today.

2,500-Year-Old Sphinx

2,500-Year-Old Sphinx

Alright this one is a serious brain teaser. Please tell us how a 2,500-year-old sphinx from Egypt can be discovered off the coast of the Bahamas in 2014. There's no way right? 

Wrong. Archeologists believe the sphinx had to be on a ship that wrecked and was buried at the bottom of the sea. 

(Image via Midjourney)

Blackbeard's Cannon

Blackbeard's Cannon

Everyone has heard of the famous English pirate, Blackbeard. Well in 1718 Blackbeard loaded his ship, Queen Anne, and took it into battle in North Carolina. Years later his sunken ship was discovered.

In 1996, Intersal, Inc. discovered the remnants of his ship along with over 250,000 artifacts. Over 30 cannons were found, one weighing up to 3,000 pounds. 

(Image via Adobe)

Rectangular Structure with Human Face Carved Into It

Rectangular Structure with Human Face Carved Into It

A diver discovered a massive rectangular formation with a human face carved into back in the 1980s. Some scientists believe the large structure was built around 10,000 years BC. 

According to scientist Masaaki Kimura, a large earthquake caused the structure to sink. Other scientists believe humans didn't build the structure. What do you think?

Military Tank

Military Tank

A military tank known as Nippo Maru was a 350 foot transport ship. In 1941, the tank was sunk by three 500-pound bombs. 

The tank was discovered in 1969 in Truk Lagoon by Jacques Cousteau. Cousteau was on a diving expedition and found several items inside including a tank, gas masks, and various personal items. 

Apollo 11 Components

Apollo 11 Components

The Apollo 11 rocket propelled into space on July 16, 1969. The rocket crashed into the ocean and was presumed lost when the rocket separated from the Saturn V module. 

In March 2013, CEO of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, sent an expedition to recover the engines. Bezo's team successfully recovered the components of Apollo 11. 

Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images

An Underwater City

An Underwater City

Back in 2001, the Advanced Digital Communications company discovered a massive geometric granite complex off the Cuban coast. The underwater city is over 1.2 square miles. 

Scientists believe the city was built 50,000 years ago. The structures are over two thousand feet deep! 

(Image via Midjourney)

Two SS Mahrattas

Two SS Mahrattas

Two SS Mahrattas were discovered off the coast of Kent in Goodwin Sands. The first SS Mahratta sunk in 1907 and the second one sank in 1939. 

The two Mahrattas were found because a ferry struck one of the wrecked boats. Apparently, people believe that the two Mahrattas are cursed. 

(Image via Midjourney)

Ancient Israeli Village

Ancient Israeli Village

An ancient village, known as Atlit Yam, was found off the coast of Atlit, Isreal. Apparently, the village was abandoned after a huge tsunami enveloped the entire village.

Scientists believe the village was built with dry-stone walling. Artifacts such as animal bones and houses were found when the village was discovered.

Hanay, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mahabalipuram Pagodas

Mahabalipuram Pagodas

The Mahabalipuram Pagodas were swallowed by the sea in southern India. The Mahabalipuram people claim the pagodas were ruined by jealous Gods. 

In 2004, the water receded due to the Boxing Day tsunami. The Pagodas were unearthed, giving credibility to the legend of the pagodas.