A nightmare spanning millennia: Shipwreck discovery in Turkey sheds light on sailors’ ancient plight

Archaeologists are stunned by the discovery of more than 30 ancient shipwrecks laden with amphorae, ancient containers, used to store food and wine on Turkey’s seabed between Mersin and the shores of Antalya, shedding light on the nightmare of sailors spanning millennia in the region.

The strait, where the underwater discovery took place, is famous for its dangerous undertows and thunderstorms, however, it was a compulsory route for ships in the Ancient Age.

During the underwater studies, archaeologists found a total of 33 shipwrecks, with the oldest one dating back 2,700 years and the earliest 1,000.

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Photo: Dogan News Agency

"We found 5,000-year-old anchors dating back to the Bronze Age alongside the shipwrecks in the region," Assoc. Dr. Hakan Öniz, head of the Department of Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage of Akdeniz University, said.

“Unfortunately, this strait was the scene for many wrecks as ships attempted to reach safer waters in the Mediterranean, where the most active trade was carried out in ancient times, " Öniz added.

"These ships shared the same fate across different centuries.”

A number of amphorae filled with olive oil, wine, dried meat, fish, and legumes were also found during the excavations.