The Oldest Shipwreck in the World Found 1,800 Meters Under the Sea

LONDON – A ship from Bronze Age which sank around 3,300 years ago has been found at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, along with its cargo consisting of hundreds of intact jars that once contained trade goods.

This ancient ship, located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) off the northern coast of Israel and at a depth of 1,800 meters (6,000 feet), is the oldest ship ever discovered in the deep sea.

To date, all shipwrecks from the Bronze Age – which began around 5,000 years ago – have been found in shallow waters near the coastline. For example, the world’s oldest known shipwreck is located off the coast of the Greek island of Dokos, and is thought to have sunk around 4,200 years ago.

“Therefore, the academic assumption to date is that trade at that time was carried out by sailing safely from one port to another, always sticking to the coastline within eye’s distance,” explains Jacob Sharvit, Head of the Antiquities Authority’s Maritime Unit Israel, in an emailed statement as reported by IFL Science.

“The discovery of this ship now changes our entire understanding of ancient seafaring capabilities: It is the first ship discovered at such a great distance without being visible to any land.”

“For navigation, they probably used celestial bodies, by observing and measuring the position of the Sun and stars,” he added.

The ship and its cargo were spotted during a routine seabed survey by a major natural gas exploration and production company. After mapping the location, the company determined that the ship was between 12 and 14 meters (39 to 46 ft) long and was carrying hundreds of Canaanite amphorae.

“The types of ships identified by their cargo are designed as the most efficient way to transport relatively cheap and mass-produced products such as oil, wine and other agricultural products such as fruit,” explains Sharvit.

The presence of this sizable cargo indicates “significant commercial ties” between the ship’s country of origin and the ancient Levant, he added.

At this stage, little is known about the ship’s origins or history, although Sharvit says that “the ship appears to have sunk in an emergency, either due to a storm or an attempted piracy attack – a common occurrence in the Late Bronze Age.”

Fortunately, the ship’s final rest on the blue seabed has protected it from waves, currents and divers, all of which can impact and damage shipwrecks in shallow water.

This discovery is an important discovery that provides new insights into trade and shipping in the ancient Mediterranean. It also shows that Bronze Age sailors were much more capable than previously thought, able to travel long distances on the open sea.

(wbs)