Mediterranean shipwreck: 4,700-year-old vessel found in Turkey

Mediterranean shipwreck. The Turkish Ministry of Culture recently presented a shipwreck discovered in the Mediterranean by researchers from Akdeniz University. According to initial dating, the vessel is between 4,700 and 4,400 years old.

The vessel, located off the coast of Turkey with a cargo of containers in relatively intact condition, may date back to the era of the Great Pyramid’s construction. If this chronological attribution is confirmed, it would be the oldest shipwreck ever discovered, surpassing the previous candidate by centuries.

Mediterranean shipwreck: why it matters

The first detection occurred in 2024, when a sonar signal directed scholars toward the remains of the small vessel. Three stone anchors were identified around the wreck. The discovery is not new: archaeologists have already described the site in a study dedicated to the vessel and the circumstances of the shipwreck.

The cargo includes approximately 18 flat-bottomed amphorae, containers used to store and transport liquids such as olive oil and wine. Some of these amphorae feature finely engraved symbols. The good preservation of the containers offers an initial clue about the boat’s commercial function, although the original contents of the cargo or the meaning of the engravings have not yet been identified.

The find testifies to maritime transport along the Anatolian coasts in the early Bronze Age, a period when Hattian civilization was forming in Anatolia. Comparison with other shipwrecks in the area highlights a significant chronological difference: many of these date back approximately 2,000-1,500 years and belong to the Roman or Byzantine eras.

What changes and what are the effects

Researchers indicate that this small vessel has a much more remote past, between 4,700 and 4,400 years ago. The study also proposes a reconstruction of its final voyage: the crew was heading west when navigation ceased due to strong marine currents present in the area, which can become dangerous in combination with wind.

Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy released a video of the underwater explorations and emphasized the importance of the find for the long history of maritime trade along the Anatolian coasts, reaffirming the commitment to preserving submerged cultural heritage.

Source and further reading on Mediterranean shipwreck: original article.

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