A Bronze Age Cargo: The Kekova Amphorae

An underwater archaeological team has uncovered the cargo of a very early ship near Kekova Island off the southern Turkish coast. Divers retrieved more than thirty large ceramic amphorae and several stone anchors from a seabed that lies about 25–40 metres below the surface, while the wooden hull of the vessel has long since decayed.

Specialists have dated the pottery to roughly 4,400–4,700 years old by comparing decoration, shape and clay composition with Early Bronze Age examples; a preliminary report was published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology in July 2026. Remarkably, many jars retain a dark, glossy residue; small samples have been taken and have been prepared for chemical and microscopic study, including X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction, with the intention that results be peer reviewed.

Ceramic forms and clay analysis suggest links with the Jordan Valley and with sites in Egypt, Troy and Crete, which implies long-distance exchange networks were operating at an earlier date than previously confirmed. While some commentators have argued the residues might reflect later reuse of the jars, others note that if the analyses confirm olive oil or wine, this find will substantially deepen our knowledge of early maritime commerce.

Because the wooden structure did not survive—possibly eaten by marine organisms—the cargo itself must serve as primary evidence for seafaring practices and provisioning. Continued excavation and laboratory work will determine whether this wreck will be formally accepted as the oldest known shipwreck, and, if so, how it rewrites a chapter of Bronze Age trade.