An underwater excavation at Kekova island on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey has uncovered amphorae between 4,400 to 4,700 years previous, courting again to the Early Bronze Age. Maritime archaeologists imagine that is the surviving cargo of the world’s oldest shipwreck.
The picket ship has not survived within the heat waters of the Mediterranean, however 30 of the big storage containers that held its cargo have. A few of them nonetheless include traces of what was within them. 
The sample of unfold signifies the ship was about 10 meters (33 toes) lengthy. Three stone anchors have been additionally discovered.
Evaluation of the clay within the amphorae revealed that they have been manufactured within the Jordan Valley. Comparable examples have been present in Egypt, Troy and Crete, artifacts of the spectacular vary of the commerce networks within the japanese Mediterranean.
One of many amphorae is notable for its design. The vessel has 9 markings and two holes on its physique. Archaeologists hypothesize that it might have been used to make cheese or churn butter. If that’s true, it suggests sailors could have made meals on board ship, not simply transported the completed client items.
Dr Karin Sowada, an archaeologist from Macquarie College, Australia, examined the amphorae after they have been recovered. Some have been intact and he or she was stunned to see they nonetheless contained a viscous, shiny residue.
“I appeared inside and almost fainted. I couldn’t imagine how a lot [residue] was seen. It wasn’t identical to spots…. lots of this materials was nonetheless remaining,” she mentioned.
The workforce is now working to seek out out precisely what was being carried within the amphorae.
“It might be olive oil, it might be wine, it might be tree resins,” Sowada mentioned.
“It’s doable that [the residue] might really be the results of reuse of the jars. I imply, these jars are large – they’re not issues that you simply simply ship away after which by no means see once more. Folks would have emptied these jars on arrival and doubtlessly used them for a lot of, many, a few years.”
The artifacts which were recovered from the wreck website at the moment are being research and conserved. They may ultimately be placed on show on the new Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum in Antalya which is scheduled to open to the general public over the subsequent few months.
