Story perspectives

Oldest Kekova shipwreck found off Turkey, 4,700 years old

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 2:32 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Ersoy Announces Ancient Shipwreck

Turkey’s culture minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery of the oldest shipwreck off Kekova Island.
The wreck dates to 4,400–4,700 years ago, in the Early Bronze Age.
Divers recovered over 30 ceramic amphorae and three stone anchors at about 100 feet depth.
Amphorae styles link them to Jordan-Valley workshops and finds in Egypt, Troy and Crete.
Researchers suggest the cargo was headed west toward Troy or the Minoan civilization on Crete.

Summary

Sowada Maps Bronze Trade

Karin Sowada led ceramic analysis linking the wreck’s cargo to Bronze Age trade networks.
Researchers from Macquarie and Akdeniz Universities formed a rare Turkey-Australia partnership.
Macquarie students observed the excavation, boosting archaeology enrollment to 226 in 2026.
Residue tests on amphorae seek to identify wine, olive oil, or tree resin.
The analysis shows east-west routes moved Greek silver to Egypt in the Early Bronze Age.

1 of 2

Ersoy Announces Ancient Shipwreck

Turkey’s culture minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery of the oldest shipwreck off Kekova Island.
The wreck dates to 4,400–4,700 years ago, in the Early Bronze Age.
Divers recovered over 30 ceramic amphorae and three stone anchors at about 100 feet depth.
Amphorae styles link them to Jordan-Valley workshops and finds in Egypt, Troy and Crete.
Researchers suggest the cargo was headed west toward Troy or the Minoan civilization on Crete.

1 / 2