Archaeologists in Türkiye may have found the world’s oldest shipwreck
Although the ship itself has deteriorated, archaeologists uncovered ancient ceramic storage jars that back approximately 4,700 years.
Archaeologists discover 4,700-year-old shipwreck in Türkiye
Archaeologists in Türkiye have discovered ancient jars dating back nearly 5,000 years at a shipwreck site that could be among the oldest in the world. The jars are believed to have been used to transport goods such as olive oil or wine across the Mediterranean.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Archaeologists in Türkiye discovered what may be the world’s oldest known shipwreck.
- Although the ship itself has deteriorated, archaeologists uncovered ancient ceramic storage jars that date back roughly 4,700 years.
- The excavations were conducted to shed light on the history of maritime trade along the Anatolian coast.
Archaeologists in Türkiye have discovered what may be the world’s oldest known shipwreck, with artifacts dating back nearly 5,000 years.
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Although the ship itself has deteriorated, archaeologists uncovered ancient ceramic storage jars known as amphorae near Kekova Island, off Türkiye’s southern coast.
The excavations have uncovered approximately 4,700-year-old amphorae believed to belong to what is described as the world's oldest known shipwreck.
(Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism/Handout/Anadolu / Getty Images)
The jars date back approximately 4,700 years to the Early Bronze Age and are believed to have been used to transport goods across the Mediterranean.
According to Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Türkiye’s minister of culture and tourism, underwater excavations were conducted to shed light on the history of maritime trade along the Anatolian coast.
A diver handles a container during underwater archaeological excavations near Kekova Island in Antalya, Turkiye, on October 14, 2026.
( Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism/Handout/Anadolu / Getty Images)
The ancient jars were discovered approximately 100 feet below the water’s surface, offering new insights into early trade connections across the eastern Mediterranean.
Clay analyses indicate that the amphorae were likely produced in workshops in the Jordan Valley. Similar examples have been found in Egypt, Troy and Crete.
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An archaeologist discovered ancient ceramic storage jars.
(Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism/Handout/Anadolu / Getty Images)
Researchers believe the amphorae were used to transport products such as olive oil or wine, suggesting the ship may have carried these goods across the Mediterranean.
Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that the vessels, thought to have been used to transport olive oil or wine, provide insights into ancient maritime trade networks across the Eastern Mediterranean.
(Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism/Handout/Anadolu / Getty Images)
Additionally, one of the amphorae discovered at the site featured nine different markings and two holes in its body.
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Researchers believe the jar may have been used to churn cheese or butter, leading them to suggest that sailors produced their own food during long voyages.