World’s oldest shipwreck discovered off coast of Turkey
Researchers discovered the remains of a trade ship off Turkey's coast that dates to the Early Bronze Age. It is now considered the oldest known shipwreck, surpassing the previous record held by the Dokos wreck.
What happened
- Earlier
A trade vessel sinks near Kekova Island while traveling east to west [2].
- Recent
Archaeologists find stone anchors and over 30 ceramic pots 30m underwater [1].
What you need to know
The ship is estimated to be between 4,400 and 4,700 years old [1].
No wooden structure remains; the age was determined by analyzing pottery styles [1].
The cargo included large double-handled ceramic jars called amphorae [2].
Some jars still contain a glossy residue that experts are currently analyzing [1].
It is not yet confirmed exactly what the residue in the jars is, though it may be wine, tree resins, or olive oil [1].
Background
The wreck was found by the Mediterranean Archaeology Association, led by Professor Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University [1]. The site is located in the Demre district of Antalya, an area known for strong winds and currents that have sunk many ships [1, 2].
The vessel was roughly 10 meters long and likely carried goods from the eastern Mediterranean toward Crete or the city of Troy [1]. The pottery styles found match those used in the Middle East and Egypt during the same era the Great Pyramid was built [1].
Questions people ask
How do archaeologists know the age without the wood?
They analyzed the shape and decoration of the ceramic pots, which match known styles from 4,400 to 4,700 years ago [1].
What was found at the site?
Divers recovered more than 30 ceramic storage jars and three stone anchors [1].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.