Archaeologists find 4,700-year-old shipwreck off Turkey, possibly the world’s oldest

Archaeologists diving near the island of Kekova, off Antalya in southern Turkey, have located the remains of a shipwreck estimated to be between 4,400 and 4,700 years old, which researchers say could be the oldest known shipwreck in the world.

Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the discovery on Wednesday, describing it as highly significant for understanding the maritime history of Anatolia. “In the Blue Homeland, we are bringing to light traces of the world’s oldest shipwreck,” he said in a statement.

The wreck lies at a depth of roughly 30 meters. Divers have recorded more than 30 ceramic storage jars and three stone anchors at the site, according to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu. The ship’s wooden hull has not survived, but its cargo is providing researchers with information about its likely age and the trading activity of the period.

Researchers dated the find to the Early Bronze Age based on the shape and decoration of the pottery, which they believe may have been used to transport goods such as olive oil and wine. The recovered objects are now undergoing conservation work so they can be preserved and studied in detail.

Possible route to Crete or Troy

Clay analysis of the jars suggests they may have originated from workshops in the Jordan Valley, pointing to a cargo tied to trade networks across the eastern Mediterranean. Similar pottery has been found in Egypt, near the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Abusir, as well as in Troy and Crete.

Based on these parallels, archaeologists believe the vessel was part of an extensive maritime trading network linking different civilizations of the period. One scenario under consideration is that the ship departed from a port on the Levantine coast and was heading toward Troy or Crete. Researchers say the possible link to Crete is of particular archaeological interest, as the findings could offer new information about the island’s maritime contacts with other parts of the Mediterranean around 4,700 years ago. The ship’s final destination, however, remains under investigation.

A jar that may have been used to make cheese

Among the finds, one jar stands out for bearing nine distinct marks on its surface and two holes in its body. Researchers say initial assessments suggest the vessel may have been used to make cheese or butter.

Archaeologists are considering the possibility that sailors on long sea voyages carried live goats aboard, milking them during the journey and producing dairy products themselves. If confirmed, the finding would offer insight not only into trade but also into the diet and living conditions of ancient crews.

Excavations began in 2026

The first traces of the wreck were identified during earlier underwater surveys conducted by Akdeniz University near Kekova island. Preliminary study of ceramic samples led researchers to estimate that the ship could date to the Early Bronze Age.

Systematic underwater excavations began in 2026 after the team secured the necessary permits from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The work is being carried out under the supervision of the Antalya Museum Directorate, with Associate Professor Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University serving as scientific director. Turkey’s culture minister congratulated Öniz and his team, saying research would continue with the aim of highlighting the country’s underwater cultural heritage.

Comparison with other ancient wrecks

The estimated age of the wreck would make it older than the Dokos shipwreck in Greece, which dates to around 2200 BC and is currently counted among the oldest known shipwrecks. However, the assessment that the Kekova wreck is the world’s oldest is based so far mainly on the dating of the ceramic finds, since the wooden vessel itself has not survived.

Further scientific study is expected to provide more answers about the ship’s exact age, the origin of its cargo and the voyage it never completed. Beyond the possibility of a new archaeological record, the discovery highlights how extensive maritime trade routes already were in the eastern Mediterranean nearly five thousand years ago, with Crete among the possible stops on these ancient journeys. Those interested in the island’s historic sites and landmarks can explore more places in Crete.