An Energean submersible robot has discovered a perfectly preserved Bronze Age shipwreck at a depth of 1,800 meters beneath the Mediterranean Sea.
A routine drilling operation by Energean, a natural gas company off the northern coast of Israel, uncovered a 3,300-year-old shipwreck located 1,800 meters below the surface of the Mediterranean, as reported by Interesting Engineering on June 21. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced that this is the oldest shipwreck found in deep waters. This discovery also represents one of the earliest examples of offshore navigation, challenging previous assumptions about maritime capabilities in ancient times.
Ancient two-handled jars recovered from the shipwreck. (Photo: IAA).
The significance of this discovery lies not only in its age but also in the location of the shipwreck. According to Jacob Sharvit, the director of maritime archaeology at the IAA, the remote position of the ship relative to land indicates that ancient sailors were better navigators than previously thought. Before this finding, scholars believed that sailors primarily operated near the coast by the end of the Bronze Age, where they could see land. This allowed them to navigate between ports using visible landmarks.
The ship measures 12 to 14 meters in length and is surrounded by numerous ancient two-handled jars. It is located approximately 90 kilometers off the Irish coast. The ship and its cargo have been exceptionally well-preserved in deep waters, protected from the waves and currents that typically destroy vessels near the surface.
Energean discovered the ship using an underwater robot. The company utilized a high-tech device known as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), equipped with cameras and bright lights to observe the dark underwater environment. From a surface vessel, the ROV carefully maneuvered around the wreck, capturing video footage for archaeologists.
Last year, during a routine survey, the ROV sent images of a pile of jars to the IAA. These jars, dating back to the late Bronze Age, contained honey, olive oil, and tree resin, providing crucial evidence about the cargo the ship was carrying. The ROV collected two jars from each end of the ship using a robotic arm, both filled with sediment.
According to the IAA, tree resin was also used in ancient Egypt for preserving wine, making incense, and varnishing. The IAA and Energean will continue to study the shipwreck, including relocating and examining the sediment within the jars onboard to learn more about trade practices in the ancient Mediterranean and shipping methods.
