The Antikythera mechanism was discovered in a shipwreck in 1901.
Greek sponge divers found the wreck near the island of Antikythera in 1900, and archaeological recovery began in 1901. Among the objects was a corroded group of bronze gears that initially attracted less attention than statues and other artworks.
The device is now regarded as an ancient mechanical astronomical calculator. Its surviving fragments include interlocking gears and inscriptions that enabled researchers to reconstruct functions related to lunar and solar cycles, eclipses, and calendar systems.
The shipwreck is generally dated to the first century BC, although the mechanism itself may have been made earlier. Its complexity challenged older assumptions about ancient Greek technology and has led to continuing research using X-ray imaging and three-dimensional analysis.