Study: Ancient 'lost city' actually formed by geological phenomenon
Underwater ruins believed to be the remains of an ancient civilization, weren’t created by man, but by nature, according to a new study.
Snorkelers who discovered the structures off the shore of the Greek island Zakynthos, believed the disc-like shapes, and what appeared to be paved roads, pointed to the remains of a forgotten city. Research published Friday, in the journal Marine and Petroleum Geology, reveals the “lost city” was actually created by a natural geological phenomenon millions of years ago.
There were hints that the strange structures weren’t man-made, Julian Andrews, lead author of the study and professor at University of East Anglia’s School of Environmental Sciences, said in statement.
“There were what superficially looked like circular column bases, and paved floors, but mysteriously no other signs of life – such as pottery,” Andrews said in a statement.
Using microscopy, X-rays and other techniques, Andrews and a team of researchers, analyzed the mineral content of the strange formations, according to the statement.
“The disk and doughnut morphology, which looked a bit like circular column bases, is typical of mineralization at hydrocarbon seeps,” Andrews said in a statement.
What was believed to be the handiwork of ancient Greeks was created by microbes, according to the statement.
“Microbes in the sediment use the carbon in methane as fuel," Andrews said. "Microbe-driven oxidation of the methane then changes the chemistry of the sediment forming a kind of natural cement, known to geologists as concretion."
He notes that the strange structures were likely the result of a sub-surface fault, which allowed gasses, such as methane, to escape from the depths.
While the disc-shaped structures aren’t uncommon, Andrews said they typically occur hundreds and thousands of feet below the surface.
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