ANKARA: Archaeologists have discovered the wreckage of an ancient ship believed to be around 2,100 years old beneath the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Antalya, Turkey, with dozens of remarkably well-preserved pottery vessels recovered from the site.
The shipwreck was found at a depth of approximately 55 metres off the Antalya coast. Researchers recovered 122 different pottery items, including plates, bowls and trays, many of which remain largely intact after more than two millennia underwater.
According to archaeologists, the ancient traders had packed the pottery inside wooden boxes and surrounded the vessels with soil. This method appears to have protected the fragile objects from breaking during the ship’s journey and helped preserve them for more than 2,000 years.
Experts believe the vessel was travelling along an ancient Mediterranean trade route, highlighting the region’s importance as a centre of maritime commerce during antiquity.
Further archaeological research and excavation are continuing at the site with the assistance of underwater robots, which are being used to examine the wreckage and uncover more information about the ship and its cargo.
The discovery could provide valuable insights into ancient Mediterranean trade networks, seafaring and the transportation of everyday goods during the period.
