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World’s Oldest Shipwreck Discovered Off Turkey’s Kekova Island

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 6:19 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Turkish archaeologists led by Professor Hakan Öniz announced the discovery of the world’s oldest shipwreck off Kekova Island.
The wreck lies about 100 feet (30 m) underwater near the island.
Divers recovered more than 30 ceramic amphorae and three stone anchors from the site.
The vessel measured 10 m (33 ft) in length and dates to the Early Bronze Age, 2,400-2,700 B.C.
Jar residues appear as viscous black material, possibly olive oil, wine or resin.

History

Historical Context

Around 2500 BC Pharaoh Khufu sealed a full-size solar barque beside his Great Pyramid, reflecting Egypt’s ritual shipburials. Egyptian archaeologists recovered the intact vessel in 1954 and relocated it to the Grand Egyptian Museum in August 2021. Meanwhile, Professor Hakan Öniz’s Turkish team retrieved over thirty amphorae and three stone anchors from a 2,500-year-old Bronze Age wreck off Kekova, confirming advanced eastern Mediterranean shipbuilding and trade.

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Story summary

Turkish archaeologists led by Professor Hakan Öniz announced the discovery of the world’s oldest shipwreck off Kekova Island.
The wreck lies about 100 feet (30 m) underwater near the island.
Divers recovered more than 30 ceramic amphorae and three stone anchors from the site.
The vessel measured 10 m (33 ft) in length and dates to the Early Bronze Age, 2,400-2,700 B.C.
Jar residues appear as viscous black material, possibly olive oil, wine or resin.

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