World’s oldest shipwreck found off coast of Turkiye

Archaeologists in Turkiye have discovered what is described as the world's oldest shipwreck near Kekova Island in Antalya province. Recovered ceramic storage jars, dating back 4,700 years to the Early Bronze Age, were found during underwater excavations. Clay analysis indicates these jars, likely used for transporting olive oil or wine, were manufactured in the Jordan Valley, suggesting extensive maritime trade and cultural exchange across the eastern Mediterranean. The findings provide evidence of Bronze Age sea routes connecting the Levantine coast with regions like Greece and Egypt. Researchers believe the ship sank while sailing from the Levantine coast towards modern-day Hisarlik in Turkiye or Crete.

Archaeologists have discovered the world's oldest known shipwreck off the coast of Turkey, near Kekova Island in Antalya. The vessel is estimated to be between 4,400 and 4,700 years old, dating to the Early Bronze Age. While the ship's wooden structure has not survived, over 30 ceramic storage pots, or amphorae, were found on the seabed, some still containing traces of their original contents. The approximately 10-meter-long ship is believed to have been a trade vessel carrying cargo across the Mediterranean Sea. The discovery, made by an expedition led by Professor Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University, also included three stone anchors.