Sponge divers found a set of gears, a ‘mechanism’ on an ancient shipwreck around 1900. Named after a nearby Greek island, it turns out this ‘mechanism’ is an ancient astronomical computer, estimated to originate around 80 BC. Scholars are not exactly sure what the device was used for, but it appears to track the rotation of the earth around the sun, the phases of the moon, and even eclipses.

Past or future dates were entered via a crank, and the mechanism calculated the position of sun, moon and stars. It appears that this device used heliocentric calculations, which may indicate that viewpoint was more widely held than previously understood.

Approximately 70 fragments of this machine have been discovered, and they are located in the Greek National Archaeological Museum. Photographs, using PTM’s, reflectance imaging techniques applied to both sides of these fragments are available at HP Labs. A most complete history of the device is available on WikiPedia.

Antikythera Mechanism Research Project | Research | Nature Article | Google Map | BBC News | Irish Independent News