Greek underwater features that look like ancient paved floors, courtyards and colonnades do not belong to some sort of Atlantis-like city, but are the product of a natural geological phenomenon that occurred up to five million years ago, says a new research into a site off the Ionian island of Zakynthos. Discovered by snorkelers and divers near Alikanas Bay, the structures bear a resemblance to archaeological stonework of the Hellenic period, such as circular column bases, pipe-like formations, and doughnut-shaped arrangements. Initially it was believed they were the remains of a long-lost civilization that perished when tidal waves hit the shores of the Greek island of Zakynthos. But all that glistens is not gold. <a href="http://www.seeker.com/small-underwater-pompeii-found-off-greek-island-1769299411.html">RELATED: Small 'Underwater Pompeii' Found Off Greek Island</a> A joint research from the University of East Anglia (UK) and the University of Athens (Greece), published in the journal Marine and Petroleum Geology, has shown the "long-lost Greek city" in fact consists of fossil features possibly of Pliocene age. "We investigated the site, which is between two and five meters under water," lead author Julian Andrews, from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said. WATCH: Can We Save Our Cities From Drowning?

Greek underwater features that look like ancient paved floors, courtyards and colonnades do not belong to some sort of Atlantis-like city, but are the product of a natural geological phenomenon that occurred up to five million years ago, says a new research into a site off the Ionian island of Zakynthos.

Discovered by snorkelers and divers near Alikanas Bay, the structures bear a resemblance to archaeological stonework of the Hellenic period, such as circular column bases, pipe-like formations, and doughnut-shaped arrangements. Initially it was believed they were the remains of a long-lost civilization that perished when tidal waves hit the shores of the Greek island of Zakynthos.

But all that glistens is not gold.

<a href="http://www.seeker.com/small-underwater-pompeii-found-off-greek-island-1769299411.html">RELATED: Small 'Underwater Pompeii' Found Off Greek Island</a>

A joint research from the University of East Anglia (UK) and the University of Athens (Greece), published in the journal Marine and Petroleum Geology, has shown the "long-lost Greek city" in fact consists of fossil features possibly of Pliocene age.

"We investigated the site, which is between two and five meters under water," lead author Julian Andrews, from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said.

WATCH: Can We Save Our Cities From Drowning?

Greek underwater features that look like ancient paved floors, courtyards and colonnades do not belong to some sort of Atlantis-like city, but are the product of a natural geological phenomenon that occurred up to five million years ago, says a new research into a site off the Ionian island of Zakynthos.Discovered by snorkelers and divers near Alikanas Bay, the structures bear a resemblance to archaeological stonework of the Hellenic period, such as circular column bases, pipe-like formations, and doughnut-shaped arrangements. Initially it was believed they were the remains of a long-lost civilization that perished when tidal waves hit the shores of the Greek island of Zakynthos.But all that glistens is not gold.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/small-underwater-pompeii-found-off-greek-island-1769299411.html">RELATED: Small 'Underwater Pompeii' Found Off Greek Island</a>A joint research from the University of East Anglia (UK) and the University of Athens (Greece), published in the journal Marine and Petroleum Geology, has shown the "long-lost Greek city" in fact consists of fossil features possibly of Pliocene age."We investigated the site, which is between two and five meters under water," lead author Julian Andrews, from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said.WATCH: Can We Save Our Cities From Drowning?

Read More: <a href="http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/research/papers/modeling-sea-level-rise-impacts-on-storm-surges-along-us-coasts/" target="_blank">Modeling sea level rise impacts on storm surges along U.S. coasts </a>"Sound policies for protecting coastal communities and assets require good information about vulnerability to flooding."<a href="http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/research/papers/tidally-adjusted-estimates-of-topographic-vulnerability-to-sea-level-rise-a/" target="_blank">Tidally adjusted estimates of topographic vulnerability to sea level rise and flooding for the contiguous United States</a> "Because sea level could rise 1 m or more during the next century, it is important to understand what land, communities and assets may be most at risk from increased flooding and eventual submersion."<a href="http://www.globalgreen.org/articles/global/95" target="_blank">Sea Level Rise: The Risk, The Facts</a> "Among other challenges, climate change is causing our sea levels to rise and putting our coastal cities -- and billions of people -- at risk across the globe."<a href="http://thebridge.agu.org/2014/05/12/west-antarctica-melts-urgency-climate-change-adaptation-rises/" target="_blank">As West Antarctica melts, the urgency for climate change adaption rises</a> "As if the recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Climate Assessment (NCA) weren't enough of a reminder of the ways in which human actions are changing our planet, new research published in the current edition of Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) presents evidence that part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has passed a tipping point."<a href="http://news.discovery.com/earth/global-warming/us-cities-under-12-feet-of-sea-level-rise-photos-140515.htm" target="_blank">US Cities Under 12-Feet of Sea-Level Rise: Photos</a> "Artist Nickolay Lamm has depicted a number of U.S. cities as they would look under 12 feet of sea-level rise."<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090205142132.htm" target="_blank">Collapse Of Antarctic Ice Sheet Would Likely Put Washington, D.C. Largely Underwater</a> "Geophysicists have shown that should the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse and melt in a warming world -- as many scientists are concerned it will -- it is the coastlines of North America and of nations in the southern Indian Ocean that will face the greatest threats from rising sea levels."

Can We Save Our Cities From Drowning?

"Mysteriously, there was no other signs of life, such as pottery," he added. Using microscopy, X-ray and stable isotope techniques, Andrews and colleagues analyzed the mineral content and texture of the underwater formation. "The disk and doughnut morphology, which looked a bit like circular column bases, is typical of mineralization at hydrocarbon seeps - seen both in modern seafloor and palaeo settings," Andrews said. <a href="http://www.seeker.com/wreck-yields-treasures-of-ancient-greeces-1-percent-1770284891.html">RELATED: Wreck Yields Treasures of Ancient Greece's '1 Percent'</a> The researchers speculate the distribution of such doughnut shaped concretions is likely the result of a sub-surface fault which has not fully ruptured the surface of the sea bed. The fault allowed gases, particularly methane, to escape from depth. "Microbes in the sediment use the carbon in methane as fuel. Microbe-driven oxidation of the methane then changes the chemistry of the sediment forming a kind of natural cement, known to geologists as concretion," Andrews said. He noted that in this case the cement was dolomite, an unusual mineral which rarely forms in shallow seawater, but can be quite common in microbe-rich sediments. "It is important to look carefully at underwater stonework in archaeological settings like Greece or Italy and be very sure that we look for all the evidence to prove that the archaeology is really what we think it is," Andrews told Discovery News.

"Mysteriously, there was no other signs of life, such as pottery," he added.

Using microscopy, X-ray and stable isotope techniques, Andrews and colleagues analyzed the mineral content and texture of the underwater formation.

"The disk and doughnut morphology, which looked a bit like circular column bases, is typical of mineralization at hydrocarbon seeps - seen both in modern seafloor and palaeo settings," Andrews said.

<a href="http://www.seeker.com/wreck-yields-treasures-of-ancient-greeces-1-percent-1770284891.html">RELATED: Wreck Yields Treasures of Ancient Greece's '1 Percent'</a>

The researchers speculate the distribution of such doughnut shaped concretions is likely the result of a sub-surface fault which has not fully ruptured the surface of the sea bed.

The fault allowed gases, particularly methane, to escape from depth.

"Microbes in the sediment use the carbon in methane as fuel. Microbe-driven oxidation of the methane then changes the chemistry of the sediment forming a kind of natural cement, known to geologists as concretion," Andrews said.

He noted that in this case the cement was dolomite, an unusual mineral which rarely forms in shallow seawater, but can be quite common in microbe-rich sediments.

"It is important to look carefully at underwater stonework in archaeological settings like Greece or Italy and be very sure that we look for all the evidence to prove that the archaeology is really what we think it is," Andrews told Discovery News.

"Mysteriously, there was no other signs of life, such as pottery," he added.Using microscopy, X-ray and stable isotope techniques, Andrews and colleagues analyzed the mineral content and texture of the underwater formation."The disk and doughnut morphology, which looked a bit like circular column bases, is typical of mineralization at hydrocarbon seeps - seen both in modern seafloor and palaeo settings," Andrews said.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/wreck-yields-treasures-of-ancient-greeces-1-percent-1770284891.html">RELATED: Wreck Yields Treasures of Ancient Greece's '1 Percent'</a>The researchers speculate the distribution of such doughnut shaped concretions is likely the result of a sub-surface fault which has not fully ruptured the surface of the sea bed.The fault allowed gases, particularly methane, to escape from depth."Microbes in the sediment use the carbon in methane as fuel. Microbe-driven oxidation of the methane then changes the chemistry of the sediment forming a kind of natural cement, known to geologists as concretion," Andrews said.He noted that in this case the cement was dolomite, an unusual mineral which rarely forms in shallow seawater, but can be quite common in microbe-rich sediments."It is important to look carefully at underwater stonework in archaeological settings like Greece or Italy and be very sure that we look for all the evidence to prove that the archaeology is really what we think it is," Andrews told Discovery News.

Exploration

Space & Innovation

Sunken Lost City? Not Really

Greek underwater features that look like ancient paved floors, courtyards and colonnades do not belong to some sort of Atlantis-like city, but are the product of a natural geological phenomenon that occurred up to five million years ago, says a new research into a site off the Ionian island of Zakynthos.

Earth & Conservation

History

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