The oldest known shipwreck in the world has been discovered off the coast of Antalya in southern Turkey, according to archaeologists involved in the investigation. Estimated to be between 4,400 and 4,700 years old, the wreck dates to the Early Bronze Age, around the time the Great Pyramid of Giza was being built.
Although no wooden parts of the vessel have survived, divers recovered more than 30 ceramic storage jars, known as amphorae, some of which still contain visible traces of their original contents.
Researchers estimate that the ship was around 10 metres long and used to transport goods across the Mediterranean. Three stone anchors were also found at the site.
Shipwreck discovered near Kekova Island
The oldest known shipwreck was found near Kekova Island in Antalya province, at a depth of approximately 30 metres.
The absence of surviving wood meant researchers could not use radiocarbon dating, which requires organic material. Instead, they estimated the wreck’s age by examining the shape and decorative features of the amphorae and comparing them with similar vessels found in Egypt and the Middle East.
The jars have two handles, a raised ridge around the middle of the body and flat bases. According to Professor Hakan Öniz of Turkey’s Akdeniz University, who led the Mediterranean Archaeology Association expedition, these features indicate that the vessels date to between 4,400 and 4,700 years ago.
“By comparing the decoration techniques, we can say with certainty that our shipwreck belongs to the Early Bronze Age,” Öniz said.
The amphorae were brought to the surface and transferred to a vessel, where conservation work began.
Ancient cargo remains preserved inside jars
Some of the ceramic vessels still contained visible traces of the materials they carried thousands of years ago.
Dr Karin Sowada, an archaeologist at Macquarie University in Australia, examined the amphorae after their recovery and found that some remained intact.
“I looked inside and nearly fainted. I couldn’t believe how much residue was visible. It wasn’t just stains; a large amount of material had been preserved,” she said.
Scientists are now working to identify the substances. Possible contents include olive oil, wine or resin, although the findings have not yet established what the ship was carrying.
Sowada noted that the jars may have been reused over many years, potentially for different products. Their contents could therefore reflect several uses rather than a single cargo.
New clues about ancient Mediterranean trade
The discovery could provide valuable evidence about maritime trade routes and shipping during the Early Bronze Age.
Researchers believe the vessel may have departed from somewhere in the eastern Mediterranean. Its intended destination could have been ancient Troy, in what is now north-western Turkey, or Crete, where the Minoan civilisation was developing.
Sea journeys at the time were hazardous, with strong winds and currents contributing to shipwrecks in the region. Hundreds of wrecks have been identified across the wider area and are being studied by the Mediterranean Archaeology Association.
Describing the experience of diving at the site, Öniz said researchers were touching objects that had remained underwater for thousands of years.
“We are the first people to touch these objects after 5,000 years,” he said.
He added that the team often thought about the sailors, the people who made the amphorae and those who carried them to the ship, as well as the women who waited for husbands who never returned.
Because of the depth, divers could spend only around 30 minutes at the wreck during each dive.
Older than the previously known record
Researchers say the Kekova discovery is now considered the world’s oldest known shipwreck.
Until now, the oldest known wreck was thought to be the one found near Dokos, an island in southern Greece, which dates back approximately 4,200 years.
The oldest known shipwreck with surviving parts of its wooden structure, meanwhile, lies in the Black Sea off Bulgaria and is estimated to be around 2,400 years old.
Also read: Israel returns 22 ancient artifacts to Greece
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