Archaeologists Discover the World’s Oldest Known Shipwreck off the Coast of Türkiye

Near Kekova Island in Türkiye’s Antalya Province, scientists discovered the remains of a vessel on the seabed dating back to the Early Bronze Age.

The find is estimated to be around 4,400–4,700 years old, placing it roughly in the period when the Great Pyramids of Egypt were being built.

The new discovery surpasses the previous record held by a 4,200-year-old vessel found near the Greek island of Dokos, making it the oldest known shipwreck in the world.

The ship’s wooden parts and hull have not survived to the present day. However, experts estimate that it was about 10 meters long and was likely used as a merchant vessel transporting goods across the Mediterranean Sea.

Divers from the underwater expedition recovered three large stone anchors and more than 30 ceramic containers from the site.

Some of the containers still preserve traces of their original contents. Conservation and laboratory studies are now underway to determine exactly what substances they once held.

Scientists believe the vessel may have departed from the eastern Mediterranean coast and was possibly transporting goods toward ancient Troy or the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete.