Marine archaeologists have located a submerged 1,500-year-old Aksumite maritime beacon and ivory trade depot off the coast of Eritrea. The structure, a massive stone tower that once served as a navigation light, was found at a depth of six meters alongside a scattered cargo of raw ivory tusks and Late Roman amphorae. This site confirms the strategic importance of Red Sea islands in the Kingdom of Aksum's global trade operations.
Surrounding the beacon were foundations of a fortified warehouse and a small barracks for naval guards. Preliminary analysis of pottery fragments found at the site shows strong links to the Malabar Coast of India, suggesting that this depot was a primary transit point for goods moving between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean during the 6th century.