A recent archaeological discovery near the shores of Kekova Island in Antalya, Turkey, has been identified as the oldest known shipwreck in the world. Dating between 4,400 and 4,700 years old, the wreckage dates back to the Early Bronze Age, placing it in the same era when the Great Pyramid in Egypt was under construction.
While the ship's wooden framework has completely dissolved over the millennia, around 30 ceramic storage vessels, known as amphorae, were left scattered across an underwater slope roughly 30 meters beneath the surface. Because the wood decayed beyond the point where radiocarbon dating could be utilized, researchers relied on the style and characteristics of these clay pots to determine the age of the vessel. Featuring a distinct design with two handles, a central ridge, and a flat base, the amphorae matched artifacts previously unearthed in Egypt and the Middle East from the same millennia.
Measuring about 10 meters in length, the vessel is believed to have operated as an ancient cargo ship traversing the Mediterranean Sea. Experts suggest the ship may have set sail from the eastern Mediterranean coast with a cargo destined either for the ancient city of Troy in north-western Turkey or for the Minoan civilization in Crete.
Researchers examining the recovered pots noted that some specimens remained remarkably intact while others retained a viscous, glossy residue. Scientists are currently analyzing this residue to determine whether the jars originally transported olive oil, wine, or tree resins, and whether the containers were reused multiple times before the vessel sank.
Marine archaeologists point out that shipwrecks were historically frequent around Kekova Island due to strong local currents and powerful winds. The find offers a rare window into ancient maritime trade networks and daily life thousands of years ago.
This latest find surpasses the previous record for the oldest known shipwreck, which was held by a 4,200-year-old wreckage discovered near the Greek island of Dokos. Meanwhile, a 2,400-year-old wreck discovered in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria remains the oldest known shipwreck found with its wooden structure still intact.