World’s oldest shipwreck found off coast of Turkiye
Archaeologists in Turkiye have discovered 4,700-year-old ceramic jars from what is believed to be the world's oldest shipwreck near Kekova Island. The find provides new evidence of Bronze Age maritime trade routes across the eastern Mediterranean.
Why it matters
This discovery offers significant historical insight into ancient economic exchange and early seafaring technology.
Culture Minister Ersoy said it sheds light on ancient maritime trade in the eastern Mediterranean.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A diver handles a container during underwater archaeological excavations near Kekova Island in Antalya, Turkiye, on October 14, 2026 [Turkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism via Anadolu Agency] By Al Jazeera Staff and Anadolu Published On 14 Oct 2026 14 Oct 2026 Turkiye’s Culture Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has said the country unearthed ancient treasures from what he called “the world’s oldest shipwreck”.
Underwater excavations near Kekova Island in the southern Antalya province uncovered ceramic storage jars dating back 4,700 years to the Early Bronze Age, Ersoy announced in a post on X on Wednesday.
While the vessel’s wooden hull did not survive, archaeologists recovered the ancient storage jars following an underwater excavation project launched earlier this year.
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5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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