Classics Professor Justin Leidwanger Featured in National Geographic
A gold belt buckle decorated with rubies, emeralds, and pearls, shown before and after restoration, is one of the many remarkable pieces unearthed by archaeologists in the waters off the Croatian island of Mljet.
Photo by Arne Hodalič
We are delighted to share that a new shipwreck project in Croatia, involving Professor Justin Leidwanger, is featured on the cover of the April 2026 issue of National Geographic, as well as in the issue’s cover story.
The article, “Lost & Found,” explores the discovery of a Byzantine shipwreck off the coast of modern-day Croatia. More than a thousand years after the vessel vanished, an archaeological team uncovered a remarkable trove of artifacts—offering new insights into the medieval world while raising important new questions about Byzantine trade and society.
While the featured excavation work has been led by a Croatian research team over several years, Professor Leidwanger will co-direct the project beginning in July and is interviewed and quoted throughout the article. The feature highlights the broader significance of the project and its contribution to the study of the Byzantine world.
Being featured on the cover of National Geographic is a rare distinction and underscores the global reach and impact of this research.
National Geographic, April 2026 (Vol. 249, No. 04)
Read the full feature on the National Geographic website (subscription required).