Researcher Kathleen Martinez Discovers Ancient Submerged Port During Cleopatra’s Tomb Search Expedition

September 2025

Dr. Kathleen Martínez, graduate of Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez.

Ureña (UNPHU) has unveiled a significant discovery: an ancient, submerged harbor connected to the temple of Taposiris Magna, where the search for Cleopatra’s tomb has been ongoing for more than 15 years.

UNPHU celebrates this significant achievement by its graduate, Dr. Kathleen Martínez, and she reaffirms her pride in supporting a Dominican woman who, with passion and science, is making history in world archeology.

The discovery, made with his international research team, includes underwater structures from the Ptolemaic era: columns, sunken squares, anchors, amphorae, and polished soils that reveal the area’s intense port activity.

Bathymetric studies have also shown that the original coastline shifted, causing many of these buildings to sink into the sea.

“The temple of Taposiris Magna had all the conditions to be chosen as a place of burial with Marco Antonio,” Martínez said, reaffirming the hypothesis that has guided his work for years.

This discovery highlights the importance of the underground tunnel found in research, as it directly links the temple to the coastal area. It shows that Taposiris Magna served not only as a religious center but also as a strategic port during Cleopatra’s reign.

National pride and international collaboration: Dr. Martinez has raised the Dominican flag in Egypt, forging an unprecedented path in world archaeology. Their findings, which already surpass two thousand cataloged pieces, are studied and valued by experts and published in international media such as National Geographic.

The project involves collaboration among archaeologists, oceanographers, and underwater technology experts, making this effort an example of interdisciplinary work with a global impact.

Impact and next steps

• This submerged port confirms the maritime importance of Taposiris Magna and its

direct link with Egypt’s last queen, Cleopatra.

• The next phases will focus on exploring new areas of submarines and thoroughly analyzing the objects found.
• The results will be presented to the international scientific community, reinforcing the prestige of Dominican archeology.