A perfectly preserved ship of the Bronze Age, which can be considered the oldest find among sunken ships, was lying at a depth of 1800  ;m below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea.
The 3,300-year-old ship was found by an underwater robot during routine drilling by Energean, a natural gas company off Israel's northern coast.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has announced the discovery of the remains of the oldest shipwreck ever discovered at great depth. It is also one of the earliest known examples of sea travel far from shore and challenges previous assumptions about the capabilities of ancient seafarers, writes Interesting Engineering.
The ship, about 12–14 meters long, was found surrounded by many ancient jugs called amphorae at a distance of about 90 km from the coast of Israel.
The ship and its cargo are very well preserved. deep under water They were protected from waves and currents that usually damage ships that are closer to the surface.
The Energean company found the ship with the help of its underwater robot. They used a high-tech piece of equipment called a Remotely Operated Vehicle (R.O.V.). It was equipped with cameras and bright lights to see in the dark depths of the sea. From the surface vessel R.O.V. carefully moved around the old ship, recording a video that amazed archaeologists.
Last year, while conducting regular research, the R.O.V. sent photos of a bunch of vintage jugs to IAA. These Late Bronze Age jars contained honey, olive oil, and pitch, which provide important clues about what was being transported on the ship. With the help of robotic manipulators R.O.V. retrieved two cans from each end of the ship, both filled with silt.
IAA and Energean carefully studied these discoveries to learn more about ancient Mediterranean trade and sailing methods.
The jugs will reportedly be on display this summer at Israel's National Archeology Campus in Jerusalem.