Atlit-Yam:

• a community located along the eastern Mediterranean coast.

• flourished until approximately 7,000 BC.

• stone homes were built around courtyards.

• seven massive stones formed a semicircle around a .

• the reason it disappeared is uncertain; the site is now underwater.

• the largest prehistoric settlement found beneath the sea.

• research has examined buildings,  and human remains.

Traditional autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs):

• used by the oil industry, for example to produce  of the seabed.
• drawbacks: they were costly and extremely .

Latest AUVs:

• easier to operate, less expensive and highly advanced.

Tests:

• at Marzamemi in Sicily, they located ancient Roman vessels carrying church components made of .

Underwater internet:

•  transmits information over short distances; acoustic waves cover longer distances.

• a relay system can send information to researchers by satellite.

• one AUV can direct another vehicle with superior  to inspect an object.

Planned research in the Gulf of Baratti:

• investigating wrecks of Roman ships, including:

• a vessel that carried  supplies; some tablets may have been dissolved to clean the .
• other vessels whose containers held olive oil or .