During a routine oil and gas survey, energy firm Energean uncovered the remains of what is believed to be the oldest and deepest shipwreck ever discovered in the Mediterranean Sea.
The discovery, made 56 miles off Israel's coast at a depth of over 5,900 feet, revealed intact storage jars, or amphorae, believed to be 3,300 years old.
Israeli archaeologists, utilising robotic submersibles equipped with cameras, identified the amphorae on the seafloor. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) confirmed the shipwreck as the oldest in the region, suggesting it dates back to the Late Bronze Age.
Jacob Sharvit, head of the IAA's marine unit, noted that the ship likely navigated using celestial bodies due to the absence of visible landmarks. He speculated that the vessel sank either due to a storm or piracy, common threats during that era.
Dr. Karnit Bahartan, Energean's top environmental official, initially spotted what seemed to be a "large pile of jugs" on the seafloor. Special equipment was used to retrieve two jars without damaging them or surrounding artifacts. These jars, attributed to the ancient Canaanite people, will be displayed at Jerusalem's National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel this summer.
The IAA reported the vessel was 39 to 45 feet long and fully intact. Bahartan described the find as "truly sensational," noting it challenges previous assumptions that ancient trade was confined to coastal navigation. This discovery provides new insights into the advanced maritime abilities of ancient civilisations.
Read more: Shipwreck discovery
(Source: CBS News)
