World's Oldest Shipwreck, Dating Back 4,700 Years, Discovered Off Turkish Coast

Archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be the world's oldest known shipwreck off the coast of Turkey, a vessel that sank approximately 4,700 years ago.

The discovery was made near Kekova Island in Antalya, with researchers estimating the ship went down between 2600 BC and 2400 BC, a period contemporary with the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. While the ship's wooden hull has decayed over millennia, divers located a cargo of ancient storage pots, known as amphorae, and stone anchors resting nearly 100 feet below the surface.

This find predates the Dokos wreck in Greece, which was previously considered the world's oldest known shipwreck. According to the archaeologists, the newly discovered vessel was approximately 32 feet in length and operated as a trade ship.

"The shipwreck is a time capsule at the bottom of the sea," said Professor Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University, who led the expedition from the Mediterranean Archaeology Association. "In total, more than 30 ceramic pots called amphorae were identified at the site, along with three stone anchors."

Experts suggest the vessel was engaged in trade across the eastern Mediterranean, likely transporting goods such as olive oil or wine. Analysis of the clay used in the amphorae indicates they were probably produced in workshops in the Jordan Valley before being shipped.

Similar vessels and artifacts have been found at sites including the Egyptian pyramids at Giza, Saqqara, and Abusir, as well as Troy and Crete, suggesting extensive trade networks existed during the Early Bronze Age. Researchers hypothesize the ship may have set sail from a port on the Levantine coast and was en route to Troy or Crete when it encountered disaster.

In their study published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology, the team noted, "Current information suggests that the shipwreck is from a small vessel that sank while sailing east to west during the Early Bronze Age."

Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, described the find as evidence of the world's oldest shipwreck and highlighted its significance for understanding Anatolia's maritime history. "We are bringing to light the traces of the world’s oldest shipwreck," he stated. "Clay analyses indicate that the amphorae were probably produced in workshops in the Jordan Valley."

He added, "The discovery of similar examples in Egypt, Troy and Crete is of great importance for understanding the trade networks that connected different regions by sea." One amphora discovered features nine different markings and two holes, leading experts to speculate it might have been used for cheese or butter production, offering clues that sailors may have produced their own food during long voyages.