Archaeologists have identified what is believed to be the world’s oldest known shipwreck off the southern coast of Turkey. Discovered near Kekova Island in Antalya, the vessel dates back approximately 4,400 to 4,700 years to the Early Bronze Age. This places its final voyage in the same era when the Great Pyramids of Egypt were being constructed.
Discovery Near Kekova Island
The remains of the ancient vessel were documented during underwater surveys conducted by Akdeniz University. The work was coordinated with the Antalya Museum Directorate under the authorization of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The artifacts lie scattered across a partly sandy and partly rocky seabed on an underwater slope, resting approximately 30 meters beneath the surface.
Prof. Hakan Öniz led the Mediterranean Archaeology Association expedition. He described the site as a preserved “time capsule at the bottom of the sea.” Because the wooden hull of the ship did not survive the elements over millennia, researchers could not use traditional radiocarbon dating techniques.
Dating the Early Bronze Age Cargo
To determine the age of the site, specialists instead analyzed the morphology and design of the ceramic storage pots, known as amphorae, scattered across the seafloor. Over 30 large double-handled jars were discovered at the site alongside three stone anchors.
Dr. Karin Sowada, an archaeologist from Macquarie University in Australia, examined the recovered containers. She noted that several amphorae still contained a glossy, viscous residue. Researchers are actively working to test this organic material to identify whether the jars held olive oil, wine, or tree resins.
Clay analyses suggest that the amphorae were manufactured in workshops located in the Jordan Valley. Similar pottery styles have been unearthed near the Egyptian pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, and Abusir, as well as in Troy and Crete. This establishes broad trade networks across the Eastern Mediterranean during the third millennium B.C.
Insights Into Ancient Maritime Trade
The discovery reshapes the timeline of known maritime history. The Kekova find surpasses the previous record holder for the world’s oldest shipwreck-a vessel discovered off the Greek island of Dokos that dates back roughly 4,200 years.
Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that the recovered artifacts will soon be placed on public display at the new Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum in Antalya. Researchers believe the small trading vessel was likely traveling along an east-to-west route. It was potentially heading toward the ancient city of Troy or the Minoan civilization in Crete before succumbing to the treacherous winds and currents of the Kekova region.
