World's oldest shipwreck found off coast of Turkey
Source: BBC World ↗ (cross-verified by 2 outlets — full list below)
Archaeologists have uncovered what they say is the world’s oldest known shipwreck off the coast of Kekova Island in Antalya, Turkey, dating the vessel to between 4,400 and 4,700 years ago in the Early Bronze Age, roughly the era of the Great Pyramid’s construction. The 10‑metre‑long trade ship left a scatter of more than 30 ceramic storage pots—amphorae—on the sea floor 30 metres beneath the waves, along with three large stone anchors. Prof Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University, who led the Mediterranean Archaeology Association expedition, described the wreck as a “time capsule at the bottom of the sea,” noting that while the wooden hull has not survived, the amphorae still retain viscous, glossy residues that may reveal their original cargo.
Because the ship’s timber could not be radiocarbon‑dated, researchers relied on the distinctive shape of the amphorae—two handles, a central ridge and a flat base—to assign an Early Bronze Age date, matching similar pottery found in Egypt and the Middle East. Dr Karin Sowada of Macquarie University examined the recovered jars and was astonished by the amount of residue still present, suggesting the containers may have been reused many times after their initial shipment. The team is now analysing the material to determine whether it was olive oil, wine, tree resin, or a combination, which could illuminate trade practices of the period.
The discovery reshapes understanding of ancient Mediterranean commerce, indicating the ship likely sailed from the eastern Mediterranean toward either the city of Troy or the Minoan civilization in Crete, navigating the treacherous currents around Kekova that have claimed hundreds of vessels. Turkey’s Ministry of Culture, represented by Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, plans to display the artefacts in the forthcoming Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum in Antalya. This wreck now supersedes the previously recognized oldest shipwreck off Greece’s Dokos island, while the oldest intact wooden ship remains a 2,400‑year‑old find in the Black Sea off Bulgaria.
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