Over 3000-Year-Old Shipwreck With Intact Cargo Discovered Off Israel

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has discovered the oldest ship ever found in the deep seas.

Energean, a natural gas firm that operates offshore fields near Israel, discovered the 3,300-year-old ship’s cargo 90 kilometres off Israel’s northern coast at a depth of 1.8 kilometres in the Mediterranean Sea while conducting a routine inspection.

The ship, built between the 14th and 13th centuries BCE, was carrying hundreds of unharmed amphorae that the IAA recognized as Late Bronze Age Canaanite storage vessels.

The discovery reveals that ancient mariners could navigate the Mediterranean Sea without a direct line of sight to any coast by relying on celestial bodies.

According to Jacob Sharvit, head of the IAA Marine Unit, the ship appears to have sunk due to a storm or an attempted piracy attack, which was common in the Late Bronze Age.

The discovery marks it as the oldest ship in the Eastern Mediterranean Deepwater, 90 kilometres from the nearest shore.

The discovery indicates ancient seafarers’ advanced navigating capabilities.

Energean’s routine deep-sea surveys using an advanced underwater robot resulted in the historic discovery.

Dr. Karnit Bahartan, Head of Energean’s Environmental Staff, stated that a year ago, they discovered a massive pile of vessels on the seafloor during a survey.

After their discussion with the IAA, they found it an incredible discovery.

Energean contributed resources and partnered with IAA experts, using their “Energean Star” ship, outfitted for deep-sea work.

Technicians developed a one-of-a-kind tool for extracting artefacts with minimal damage.

Sharvit stated that the robot’s inspection confirmed it as a sunken ship approximately 12 to 14 meters long, transporting hundreds of vessels, many of which are buried in the mud.

Two vessels were retrieved from different ends of the ship during two days to minimize disturbance.

He added that discovering such a vast amount of amphorae on a ship indicates strong commercial ties between the country of origin and the ancient Near Eastern Islands on the Mediterranean coast.

This is the third known Late Bronze Age Shipwreck in the Mediterranean and the first discovered so far from the shore.

Earlier, shipwrecks were discovered near shore, leading to the belief that ancient trade involved port-to-port navigation along coastlines, but this remarkable discovery reveals how ancient seafarers navigated the vast seas using the sun and stars.

Shaul Zemach, the CEO of Energeal Israel, highlighted the company’s commitment to societal and environmental responsibility, stating that the team demonstrated extraordinary professionalism in the complicated operation.

IAA Director Eli Escusido revealed plans to exhibit Canaanite vessels at Jerusalem’s Archaeological Campus, with public tours available before the tourist centre’s official opening in two years.

The shipwreck’s well-preserved condition, unaffected by human or natural factors, offers enormous research possibilities.

Future investigations may uncover more about the ship’s excursion, cargo, and the circumstances surrounding its sinking.

Reference: Barrons, TOI