The ancient city was submerged by raging sea waters eight times, but the remains have been found in underwater excavation by archeologists.

This discovery led to a full-scale, five-day underwater excavation, which was conducted from September 8 to 12, 2008.

Separate licences are required for any disturbance, such as recovery of artifacts or underwater excavation.

National Geographic magazine is publishing the first detailed account of the underwater excavation in its December issue.

There are also claims that exhibiting the artefacts would be against international agreements on underwater excavations.

It was the world's first large-scale underwater archeological excavation.

Most of its collection dates from underwater excavations after 1960.

Recent underwater archaeological excavations have revealed a wealth of stone blocks and statuary lying only a few feet below the surface.

The upper end rested against one rim of its own underwater excavation.

Since 1969, museum archaeologists have been conducting underwater archaeological excavations beneath the Caspian Sea.