30 Bronze Age amphorae recovered off Turkish coast

Approximately 30 amphorae and three stone anchors lie at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, marking what Turkish officials describe as the world's oldest shipwreck. The discovery was announced on social media by Mehmet Ersoy, the country's Tourism and Culture Minister.

The site is located off the coast of Kekova, a small, uninhabited island in western Turkey. Hakan Öniz, a professor at Akdeniz University and leader of the Mediterranean Archaeology Association expedition, confirmed the dating of the artifacts. He stated that decorative techniques on the vessels place them firmly in the Early Bronze Age.

The pottery dates to a period between 4,400 and 4,700 years ago. Öniz described the find as a time capsule preserved underwater. He noted that the team was the first to physically handle the objects in 5,000 years. He spoke about the sailors who transported the goods and the families who waited for them on shore.

Analysis of the vessel shapes suggests they were manufactured in workshops within the Jordan Valley. Similar items have previously been uncovered in Egypt, Troy, and Crete. One specific amphora stands out from the rest of the collection. It bears nine distinct markings and features two holes in its body.

The unique vessel is believed to have functioned as a churn for cheese or butter. This implies that Bronze Age sailors may have produced their own food during long voyages. The remaining jars contained a glossy residue that survived the centuries underwater.

Karin Sowada, an archaeologist at Macquarie University, examined the interior of the pots. She reported that a large amount of material remained, rather than just small spots. She identified the substance as possibly being olive oil, wine, or tree resins. She suggested the jars were likely reused for many years after the ship sank.

Ersoy praised Öniz and the team for their work in preserving underwater cultural heritage. The excavation provides new evidence of maritime trade routes along the coasts of Anatolia during the Bronze Age.