Image: The wreck sits about 100 feet beneath the surface. Turkish Culture Ministry
By Jack Guy
Archaeologists working off the coast of Turkey have found a shipwreck dating back around 4,700 years, making it the oldest in the world.
A number of ancient storage vessels known as amphorae were recovered during excavations at the wreck, which was found at a depth of around 100 feet near Kekova Island off the coast of southern Turkey, according to a statement from the country’s culture ministry, published Wednesday.
The amphorae date from 4,400-4,700 years ago and provide new information on maritime history, the daily lives of mariners and trade connections at the time.
The vessels are thought to mainly have been used for transporting olive oil or wine. However, one amphora features a distinctive set of marks and two holes in its body, which suggest it could have been used to make cheese or butter.
Researchers said the presence of this amphora may mean that sailors took goats with them on their voyages, using their milk to make dairy products.
Read the full article on CNN:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/science/worlds-oldest-shipwreck-turkey-scli-intl
