Oldest known shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast

Archaeologists working off the coast of Turkey near Kekova Island discovered the world’s oldest known shipwreck, dating back to the early Bronze Age, between 4,400 and 4,700 years ago.

The wooden structure of the ship did not survive, but ceramic storage jars, called amphorae, remained on the seabed, some still containing remnants of their original contents. The vessel, approximately 10 meters long, was a trading ship that sailed the Mediterranean Sea.

Professor Hakan Oniz of Akdeniz University in Turkey, leading the expedition from the Mediterranean Archaeological Association, described the wreck as a “time capsule on the seabed.” Artefacts, including three large stone anchors and over 30 amphorae, were scattered on a slope 30 meters below the surface. Because the wood had decayed, archaeologists used the style of the pottery to determine the ship’s age, matching it to similar amphorae found in Egypt and the Middle East. Dr.

Karin Sovada, an archaeologist from Macquarie University in Australia, examined the recovered amphorae and was surprised to find substantial residue inside many of them. The team is now analysing the contents, believing they may have carried goods like olive oil, wine, or resin. This discovery also provides insights into ancient trade routes, suggesting the ship originated from the eastern Mediterranean coast, possibly travelling to Troy in Turkey or to the Minoan people of Crete.

The area around Kekova Island is known for strong currents and winds that have caused many shipwrecks over time.