Can you imagine the wondrous discoveries we are soon to make as technology improves? So many riches and history of humanity lay at the bottom of the oceans.
A shipwreck that dates back approximately 3,300 years has been uncovered at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. This discovery, announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority, positions it among the oldest known shipwrecks, significantly altering our understanding of ancient maritime navigation. The ship is believed to originate from either the 13th or 14th century BCE, found about 56 miles from the coast in waters that are roughly 1.1 miles deep. Remarkably, the wreck still housed hundreds of intact jars.
Behind the scenes as archaeologists and ROV operators retrieve two 3,300 year old Canaanite storage jars from a shipwreck 1800m below the Mediterranean.
Read more on @sciam https://t.co/M9ErSd9ypF pic.twitter.com/vz7pCvtIm9— iℓɑƞ ᛒεƞ ȝıoƞ (@IlanBenZion) June 22, 2024
The discovery was made during an environmental survey of the seabed conducted by a London-based natural gas production company. Karnit Bahartan, who leads the environmental team at the company, reported an initial sighting of what appeared to be a large cluster of urns. This observation led to what she described as a “sensational discovery,” far surpassing the team’s expectations.
Subsequent efforts focused on salvaging the jars from the shipwreck, with plans to display them at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem this summer.
Major Ancient shipwreck discovery just announced yesterday.
The oldest, deepest and furthest away from continental land shipwreck was found last year on accident.
The discovery was made when a submersible robot operated by Energean (a natural gas exploration and production… pic.twitter.com/lHmoZy2AD4
— Ancient Hypotheses (@AncientEpoch) June 21, 2024
Yaakov Sharvit, director of the Maritime Archeology Unit at the antiquities authority, suggested that the ship may have met its demise due to a storm or possibly an encounter with pirates. He emphasized the significance of the find, noting, “This is the first and earliest shipwreck discovered to date in the deep sea in the eastern Mediterranean.”
The cargo of the ship, primarily jugs, likely contained oil, wine, or other agricultural products, pointing to a vibrant pattern of maritime trade across the sea. This contradicts previous assumptions that ancient maritime voyages strictly hugged coastlines, traveling from port to port with the shore still in sight. The recent find demonstrates that ancient mariners possessed advanced navigational skills, enabling them to traverse open sea expanses and maintain courses far beyond the visible horizon.
The wreckage of the world’s oldest ship was found off the coast of Israel. It sank about 3300 years ago
Geologists from the Energean company, which produces natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea, accidentally stumbled upon the wreckage of an ancient ship. An examination of the… pic.twitter.com/EeHhh8VLDr
— Mike (@Doranimated) June 21, 2024
Sharvit hailed the discovery as a “world-class sensation,” underscoring that it provides evidence of the ancient mariners’ impressive abilities to navigate the Mediterranean without sight of land. This ship’s voyage, likely undertaken without visual references to the coastline, showcases a level of maritime skill and daring previously uncredited to the ancient world. This new evidence not only enriches our understanding of ancient seafaring but also illustrates the complex and far-reaching trade networks that existed at that time.
Major Points:
- A 3,300-year-old shipwreck has been discovered at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, marking one of the oldest such finds.
- The vessel, dating from the 13th or 14th century BCE, was found 56 miles offshore in waters 1.1 miles deep, with numerous intact jars aboard.
- The discovery was made during an environmental survey by a London-based natural gas production company.
- The find challenges previous assumptions about ancient maritime routes, revealing that ancient mariners could navigate vast expanses of open sea without sighting the coast.
- The artifacts from the shipwreck, including commercial jugs likely used for transporting goods like oil and wine, will be displayed in Jerusalem this summer.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
