The world's oldest shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Turkey, according to archaeologists. The wreck is dated to between 4,400 and 4,700 years old, corresponding to the Early Bronze Age, around the same period as the construction of the Great Pyramid.
While the ship's wooden structure has not survived, more than 30 ceramic storage pots, called amphorae, were found on the seabed near Kekova Island in Antalya, Turkey. Some of these pots still contain traces of what they once held inside.
Professor Hakan Öniz from Akdeniz University, who led the Mediterranean Archaeology Association expedition, stated that the ship was approximately 10m in length and functioned as a trade vessel. The age of the wreck was determined by analysing the distinctive shape of the amphorae, which matched styles known to be 4,400-4,700 years old from Egypt and the Middle East.
Divers have brought the pots to the surface for conservation. Dr Karin Sowada from Macquarie University, Australia, examined the recovered amphorae and noted a viscous, glossy residue inside some of them. The team is currently working to identify the contents, which could include olive oil, wine, or tree resins, though reuse of the jars is also a possibility.
The discovery is also providing insights into ancient trade routes, with archaeologists suggesting the ship began its journey from the eastern Mediterranean coast, possibly heading to the ancient city of Troy or to the Minoan people in Crete.