Oldest Bronze Age merchant shipwreck discovered off Turkey

Archaeologists have unearthed a 4,700-year-old shipwreck near Turkey's Kekova Island, providing fresh insights into ancient Mediterranean seafaring. The discovery off the coast of Antalya province marks the oldest such find in the Mediterranean. The sunken merchant vessel, measuring approximately 10 meters in length, was found at a depth of around 30 meters.

Investigators estimate the ship transported goods across the Mediterranean during the early Bronze Age. Excavations have uncovered three stone anchors and over 30 ceramic amphorae, vessels commonly used for storing and transporting goods. The wooden hull of the ship has not yet been located. By examining the shapes of the ceramic containers and comparing them to similar finds from Egypt and the Middle East, researchers determined the wreck's age.

Sticky residues on some of the containers suggest the presence of substances like olive oil. The Kekova wreck appears to have been sailing from the eastern Mediterranean towards the ancient city of Troy or the island of Crete, highlighting trade routes between regional civilizations during that era. The site is older than the Dokos shipwreck in Greece, which dates back approximately 4,200 years, offering new perspectives on the history of seafaring and trade among ancient Mediterranean cultures.