Ancient shipwreck off Turkey reveals secrets of Bronze Age trade`

Archaeologists have discovered a shipwreck off the coast of Turkey that could be the world’s oldest known, dating back approximately 4,400 to 4,700 years to the Early Bronze Age.

Screenshot from BBC video by Hakan Oniz

The wreck was found near Kekova Island in Antalya, with its cargo scattered along an underwater slope about 30 metres below the surface. Researchers believe the vessel was a trading ship that measured around 10 metres long and carried goods across the Mediterranean.

Although the ship’s wooden structure has not survived, its cargo offers a rare glimpse into maritime trade during an era when Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza was being built.

According to the BBC , archaeologists recovered more than 30 ceramic storage vessels, known as amphorae, as well as three large stone anchors from the site.

The pottery’s distinctive shape, including two handles, a central ridge and a flat base, helped researchers establish the wreck’s age. Comparisons with similar vessels discovered in Egypt and the Middle East suggest the ship dates to the Early Bronze Age.

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Ancient cargo still holds traces of its contents

Some of the ceramic vessels were remarkably well preserved, with researchers discovering glossy, viscous residue inside several pots after they were brought to the surface.

Archaeologist Dr Karin Sowada from Macquarie University in Australia examined the recovered vessels and said the amount of residue was surprising.

Scientists are now investigating what the material might be. Possibilities include olive oil, wine or tree resins, although researchers have not yet confirmed its identity. The vessels may also have been reused over many years, meaning the residue could come from a later use rather than the ship’s original cargo.

The discovery is providing new clues about how goods moved across the ancient Mediterranean and the vessels used to transport them.

Where was the ship heading?

Researchers believe the vessel began its journey somewhere along the eastern Mediterranean coast. Its intended destination may have been the ancient city of Troy, in what is now north-western Turkey, or the Minoan civilisation on Crete.

Sea travel during the period carried considerable risks. The waters around Kekova Island are known for strong currents and winds, and the surrounding area contains hundreds of shipwrecks.

Professor Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University, who led the expedition by the Mediterranean Archaeology Association, described the discovery as a time capsule preserved on the seabed.

The wreck is owned by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture. Recovered artefacts are expected to go on display at the planned Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum in Antalya.

The discovery surpasses a previously known shipwreck off the Greek island of Dokos, which dates back approximately 4,200 years. It is also distinct from the world’s oldest known intact shipwreck, found in the Black Sea off Bulgaria, where the wooden structure remains preserved.

Source: BBC

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