World's oldest shipwreck revealed – and the surprising connection to the Jordan Valley

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 4,700-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Turkey, the oldest ever found. Excavations revealed ancient storage jars manufactured in the Jordan Valley, indicating extensive maritime trade networks. One jar suggests sailors carried goats for food and dairy production during the voyage.

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 4,700-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Kaş Island in southern Turkey, marking it as the oldest known shipwreck in the world. The excavations were led by Professor Hakan Öniz from Akdeniz University in Antalya and included the discovery of amphorae—ancient storage jars—produced in workshops in the Jordan Valley. This finding indicates extensive maritime trade networks in the eastern Mediterranean during the Early Bronze Age. Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, noted that clay analysis showed the amphorae were likely made in the Jordan Valley, with similar examples found in Egypt, Troy, and the Cretan Sea. One fascinating find is an amphora bearing a unique marking system and two holes in its body, suggesting use for cheese or butter production. From this, researchers conclude that ancient seafarers brought goats on their voyages to produce fresh dairy products. The ship, which likely carried olive oil or wine, was traveling from the Levantine coast toward Troy or Crete before sinking.