A shipwreck off southern Turkey may be the oldest ever discovered. Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University found it in shallow water near Kekova in 2024, following clues from local sailors. Although the wooden ship has disappeared, its cargo of pottery survives.
By examining the pots' shapes and production methods, researchers have tentatively dated the wreck to 2700–2400 BC, roughly 4,500 years ago. This would make it older than the previously oldest known wreck, near Dokos in Greece, which dates back about 4,200 years. However, the estimate could change, and the findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, where other experts assess research.
The cargo includes large storage jars with two handles, some with a raised clay band around the middle. Visible traces of their contents remain inside. These could be olive oil, wine or tree resin, a sticky substance produced by trees, but scientific tests are still needed.
The vessel was travelling along Turkey's southern coast, although its direction is unknown. Researchers believe its cargo could help explain early trading links across the eastern Mediterranean. Some jars, or the clay used to make them, may have come from the Central Jordan Valley.
