World's oldest shipwreck? Archaeologists discover 4,700-year-old vessel off Turkey

Archaeologists led by Professor Hakan Öniz of Akdeniz University have discovered a shipwreck off Kekova Island in Turkey's Antalya, believed to be the world's oldest, dating back between 4,400 and 4,700 years.

The vessel, an Early Bronze Age merchant ship, is roughly contemporary with the construction of Egypt's Great Pyramid. The discovery surpasses the previous record holder, a wreck estimated to be about 4,200 years old off Dokos Island in Greece.

The wreck lies on an underwater slope about 30 metres below the surface. Divers conducting excavations were limited to 30-minute shifts because of the depth, says the BBC.

The merchant vessel was approximately 10 metres long and is believed to have carried cargo across the Mediterranean. None of its wooden structure survived, leaving archaeologists to determine its age through the artefacts found at the site.

Divers recovered three large stone anchors, which ships carried as spares for long voyages, along with more than 30 ceramic storage vessels known as amphorae scattered across the seabed.

The pottery's distinctive two-handled design, central ridge and flat base match styles associated with ancient Egypt and the Middle East.

Because no organic wood remained for radiocarbon dating, researchers estimated the ship's age by analysing the styles of the pottery carried as cargo.

Dr Karin Sowada of Macquarie University found that several intact jars still contained a thick, glossy residue. Laboratory testing is under way to determine whether the vessels held olive oil, wine or tree resin, or whether they had been reused over a period of years.

Archaeologists believe the ship departed from the eastern Mediterranean coast and was heading towards either Troy in northwestern Turkey or Minoan settlements on Crete.

The waters around Kekova Island are known for strong currents and winds that have caused hundreds of shipwrecks over the centuries.