What archaeological device was recovered from a shipwreck near Antikythera?

The Antikythera mechanism was recovered from a shipwreck near the Greek island of Antikythera.

Greek sponge divers discovered the wreck in 1900 or 1901, and the bronze fragments were recovered during an expedition led by the Greek government. The ship probably sank in the first century BCE while carrying luxury goods from the eastern Mediterranean toward Rome.

The mechanism contains interlocking gears and displays connected to astronomical cycles. Research indicates that it could model the positions of the Sun and Moon, predict eclipses, and track calendars. Its sophistication is extraordinary for an artifact made more than 2,000 years ago.

The device is often described as the world’s earliest known analog computer. It was not a modern computer, but a hand-powered mechanical calculator that converted astronomical knowledge into moving pointers and dials.