A shipwreck near Kekova, Turkey, may be the oldest ever discovered. Hakan Öniz found it in shallow water between two islands in 2024, after receiving clues from local sailors. The research team estimates that it dates to around 2700–2400 BCE, roughly 4,500 years ago.
The dating remains uncertain and could shift earlier or later. Before this discovery, a wreck near the Greek island of Dokos was considered the world’s oldest, at about 4,200 years old. The Kekova find could offer important evidence about early trade in the eastern Mediterranean.
Although the ship’s wood has disappeared, its cargo remains on a rocky underwater slope. Researchers use the shapes of its pottery and the methods used to make it to estimate the wreck’s age. The cargo includes large storage jars with two handles and flat bottoms. Many also have a raised band of clay around their widest part.
Visible traces of the jars’ contents remain inside them, possibly from olive oil, wine, or tree resin. The ship was traveling along Turkey’s southern coast, although its direction is unknown. By examining the cargo, researchers hope to better understand the movement of goods across the region during the Early Bronze Age.
