Under Place Jules-Verne, near the Old Port of Marseille, two ancient Greek ships were uncovered in the mud, dating back to the end of the sixth century BCE—about 2,500 years ago. The discovery occurred during an excavation project tied to the construction of an underground parking lot in the city center, which took place from mid-August 1992 to mid-August 1993, covering an area of 3,700 square meters. The excavation, led by archaeologist Antoinette Hesnard, involved 25 to 30 contract workers. Before the project began, the site had been damaged by rubble from a neighborhood that was dynamited at the start of 1943 during World War II. The two shipwrecks are described as "extraordinarily well-preserved" and were constructed using an archaic Greek technique, with one ship being "entirely sewn" using ancient methods. These vessels were likely used for coastal fishing, possibly for harvesting red coral. One of the wrecks, labeled Jules-Verne 9, is considered the most thoroughly documented and is identified as a large Greek coastal fishing boat from the end of the sixth century BCE. Today, the original wrecks are displayed at the Museum of History of Marseille, alongside five other shipwrecks—two Greek and three Roman—as reported by France Bleu. As part of Marseille's European Capital of Culture 2013 program, a replica of Jules-Verne 9 was built and named Gyptis. The replica is 9.85 meters long and 1.88 meters wide, requiring 4.5 kilometers of flax thread and 10,000 nails for construction. It was launched on October 12, 2013, in the Old Port, just a short distance from where the original ship had rested in the mud for over two millennia. The excavation not only revealed the two Greek ships but also remains of ten ancient vessels and port structures, including a Greek quay, a Hellenistic shipyard, and Roman warehouses. However, some sources mention seven wrecks, with the exact number varying depending on the source. The discovery of these ancient ships has provided valuable insight into maritime practices and trade in the region during the ancient Greek period. The presence of multiple wrecks and port infrastructure suggests that Marseille, or the area it now occupies, was an important hub for maritime activity in antiquity. The excavation continues to be a significant archaeological event, offering a rare glimpse into the past through the preservation of these ancient vessels and their associated structures.