Scientists discover an ancient shipwreck dating to when the Great Pyramid was built

October 15, 20262 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmCould this ancient shipwreck be the oldest ever found?The wreck was found with relatively intact cargo on the seabed off the coast of Türkiye and is believed to be between 4,400 and 4,700 years oldDivers explore a Bronze Age shipwreck off the coast of Turkey Turkey Ministry of Culture and TourismJoin Our Community of Science Lovers!They don’t make ’em like they used to. A shipwreck believed to date to the early Bronze Age has been discovered still sitting at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, complete with intact cargo.The small boat was first found in 2024 by scientists from Türkiye's Akdeniz University. A blip on their sonar screen led them to the remains, which were surrounded by three stone anchors.While old shipwrecks in the area aren’t uncommon, most have dated to the Roman or Byzantine periods, roughly 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. This ship, however, is far older, likely dating to the early Bronze Age, when the Hattian civilization was beginning to form. The scientists believe the remains are between 4,400 and 4,700 years old. That would make this the oldest shipwreck ever found, surpassing the previous contender by centuries.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Inside the ship, the archaeologists found around 18 flat-bottomed containers, remarkably intact amphorae, which were commonly used at the time to store and transport liquids like olive oil and wine. Some of the containers were marked with finely etched symbols, although what these mean is not year clear.The unfortunate crew of the doomed vessel were likely sailing to the west when disaster struck, the researchers wrote in a study published earlier this year about the wreck. The area where it was found has strong currents that, when combined with wind, can be treacherous, they noted.Türkiye's Culture Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy posted a video of the underwater site on social media on Wednesday. In the post, Ersoy said the shipwreck sheds light “on the deep-rooted history of maritime trade along the Anatolian coasts.”“We continue to illuminate Anatolia's maritime history with new discoveries, preserving our underwater cultural heritage to pass it on to future generations,” he said.Subscribe to Support Independent JournalismGreat science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber