Turkey finds world's oldest shipwreck

Turkey's Ancient Shipwreck Discovery

A team of archaeologists has discovered a shipwreck off the coast of Turkey that is believed to be the oldest in the world. The shipwreck, which was found in shallow waters off Kekova, west of Antalya in Turkey, has been tentatively dated to around 2700-2400 BCE. According to Karin Sowada, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and Director of the Australian Centre for Egyptology, Macquarie University, "There's little left of the ship itself but based on clues from its cargo - including pottery vessels - a research team I was part of has tentatively dated the wreck to around 2700-2400 BCE."

The Shipwreck's Cargo

The shipwreck's cargo included large ceramic storage vessels or amphorae, which were used to transport goods such as olive oil or wine. The amphorae were found to be embedded in the rocky slope along the Kekova coast, and divers worked over the past four months to extract them from the underwater slope. As Sowada notes, "The pots were large ovoid, flat-based jars with two handles, many featuring a raised horizontal clay 'belt' around the widest part of the jar."

Dating the Shipwreck

The shipwreck was dated using the pottery vessels found on board. The shape and manufacturing technique of the pots themselves helped to date the cargo, and by extension, the ship itself. The tentative date of around 2700-2400 BCE makes this shipwreck the oldest in the world, surpassing the previous record holder, a wreck off the coast of Dokos in Greece, which was thought to have been from around 4,200 years ago.

Significance of the Discovery

The discovery of this shipwreck provides evidence of early maritime trade and cultural exchange across the eastern Mediterranean during the Early Bronze Age. The amphorae found on board were manufactured in workshops in the Jordan Valley, and their design matches similar styles previously found in Egypt, Turkey, and Greece. As Sowada explains, "This discovery promises to re-write our understanding of early trade networks from around 4,500 years ago."

Detail	Information
Date of the shipwreck	around 2700-2400 BCE
Location of the shipwreck	off the coast of Kekova, west of Antalya in Turkey
Cargo of the shipwreck	large ceramic storage vessels or amphorae
Origin of the amphorae	workshops in the Jordan Valley

Research and Excavation

The research on the shipwreck was led by Associate Professor Hakan Öniz, head of the Division of Mediterranean Underwater Cultural Heritage Research, and the Department of Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage in the Faculty of Art at the Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. The excavation was directed by Professor Öniz, and the team included archaeologists from the Australian Centre for Egyptology, Macquarie University.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of the shipwreck's discovery?

According to Turkiye's Culture Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the discovery "shed light on the deep-rooted history of maritime trade along the Anatolian coasts."

How was the shipwreck dated?

The shipwreck was dated using the pottery vessels found on board, which were analyzed to determine their age and origin.

What was the cargo of the shipwreck?

The cargo of the shipwreck included large ceramic storage vessels or amphorae, which were used to transport goods such as olive oil or wine.

The discovery of this ancient shipwreck is a significant find, and its excavation and analysis are ongoing. As researchers continue to study the shipwreck and its cargo, they may uncover even more secrets about the ancient world and its trade networks. With the shipwreck's age and significance, it is likely to remain an important area of study for years to come, and its discovery will continue to shed light on the history of maritime trade in the eastern Mediterranean.