World's Oldest Shipwreck Discovered Off Turkey's Coast
The world's oldest shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Kekova Island in Turkey, archaeologists announce. Dated between 4,400 and 4,700 years old, it from the Early Bronze Age, around the time the Great Pyramid was being built.
Although the ship's wooden structure has not survived, the ceramic storage pots it was carrying rest on the sea floor, some still containing traces of their original contents.
"The shipwreck is a time capsule at the bottom of the sea," said Prof. Hakan Öniz from Akdeniz University in Turkey, who led the expedition.
The wreck lies close to the shore of Kekova Island, scattered across an underwater slope approximately 30 meters beneath the waves. The divers recovered three large stone anchors, over 30 ceramic storage pots, or amphorae, and other artifacts.
Due to the absence of organic material, radiocarbon dating was not an option. Archaeologists relied on analyzing the shape of the amphorae, which revealed a distinctive design unique to this era.
Öniz explains, "Comparing the decoration techniques... we can definitely say our wreck is Early Bronze Age. This is 100%."
The recovered pots are currently undergoing conservation. Initial analysis reveals surprising remnants of a viscous, glossy substance inside some of the intact vessels, potentially indicating the remains of olive oil, wine, or tree resins.
The ship and its cargo offer valuable insights into trade in the ancient world, suggesting a well-established network connecting regions along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.