After the well- known evidence from Cape Calidonya and Ulu Burun wrecks, the Point Iria wreck is the third Late Bronze Age wreck in the Mediterranean and the first in the Aegean to offer important evidence of Late Mycenaean and Cypro-Mycenaean seafaring.

Point Iria is located on the north coast of the Argolic Gulf in a short distance from the Mycenaean site of Mases. In 1990 the Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology undertook the first systematic survey of the site, whilst from 1990 to 1994 the site was systematically investigated under the direction of C. Pennes and H.I.M.A.

The Point Iria wreck belongs to an advanced phase of the Late Bronze Age, a time span namely that preceded the ultimate and remarkable Mycenaean presence in Cyprus. Its cargo has offered concrete evidence of trading behavior and Cypro-Mycenaean long distance connections giving new light on the renewed contacts between Cyprus and the Argolid during the end of the 13th century BC. The geographical position of the wreck contributes to our knowledge of Cypro-Mycenaean seafaring that has been gained by the evidence from settlement sites and harbours in the region. The character of its cargo is of great importance as it indicates a common sea trade activity and not a ‘royal’ cargo such as that of Ulu Burun wreck. And the fact that its cargo bears a resemblance with those from the Cape Calidonya and Ulu Burun wrecks emerges significant patterns of interconnections and well established trade networks during the LHIII period in the Mediterranean. Thus, it can be said with most certainty that thanks to the new evidence from the Point Iria wreck, our perspective of the sea trade routes and long distance communications in the Aegean became wider and in the context of a more extensive international network between Greece and the East during the LHIII period.

-Pennas, C. and Vichos, Y. (1991) The 1991 underwater survey of the late Bronze Age wreck at Point Iria Enalia Annual 1991, Vol. III: 4-16
-Agouridis, H. (1999) The late Bronze Age shipwreck at Point Iria: discovery and excavation. In W. Phelps, Y. Lolos and Y. Vichos (eds.) The Point Iria wreack: interconnections in the Mediterranean ca. 1200 BC- Proceedings of the International Conference, island of Spetses, 19 September 1998 (Athens: Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology) 25-42
-Lolos, Y. (1999) The cargo of pottery from the Point Iria wreck: character and implications. In W. Phelps, Y. Lolos and Y. Vichos (eds.) The Point Iria wreack: interconnections in the Mediterranean ca. 1200 BC- Proceedings of the International Conference, island of Spetses, 19 September 1998 (Athens: Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology) 43-58
-Lolos, Y. (1995) Late Cypro-Mycenaean seafaring: new evidence from the sites in the Saronic and the Argolid Gulfs. In V. Karageorghis and D. Michaelides (eds) Proceedings of the International Symposium Cyprus and the sea (Niconsia: University of Cyprus and Cyprus ports authority) 65-85

Greetings