In brief
A wreck off the coast of Kekova Island in Antalya, Turkey, has been dated to 4,400–4,700 years ago, making it the oldest known shipwreck. The sunken vessel, about 10 m long, was a trade ship that carried more than 30 amphorae made of ceramic, many of which still contain residues. Analysis of the amphorae’s distinctive style linked the artefacts to the Early Bronze Age, aligning with the period when the Great Pyramid was under construction. Divers recovered stone anchors and cargo, which will be conserved and displayed at the new Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum. The find sheds new light on ancient trade routes between the eastern Mediterranean, Troy, and Crete.
The world's oldest shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Turkey.
Scientists have dated the sunken vessel to the Early Bronze Age, between 4,400 and 4,700 years ago – roughly the same era the Great Pyramid was being built.
The wooden hull did not survive, but more than 30 ceramic amphorae were found on the sea floor, some of them still holding traces of their original contents. The amphorae’s distinctive two‑handle shape, ridge, and flat base are a hallmark of pottery from the period.
Dubbed a maritime time capsule, the wreck was about 10 metres long and carried cargo meant for trade across the Mediterranean. Researchers think the ship may have been headed for Troy or the Minoan sites on Crete.
Three stone anchors were also recovered, a common feature of vessels built to carry large amphorae. The anchors and pottery will be conserved on board the research vessel before being exhibited at the forthcoming Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum in Antalya.
The dive was timed to allow a 30‑minute stay at the 30‑metre depth, a necessary limit to prevent decompression sickness for the divers.
This discovery tops the list of the oldest known shipwrecks, surpassing a 4,200‑year‑old wreck off Dokos in Greece. The oldest intact wooden shipwreck, found off Bulgaria’s coast, dates to roughly 2,400 years ago.
