5 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

1100-Year-Old Rare Sealed Amphora Discovered on Shipwreck off Türkiye Coast

Underwater excavations near Kaş, Antalya, on Turkey’s southwestern coast, have yielded fascinating insights into ancient Mediterranean seafaring and trade. A team led by Associate Professor Dr. Hakan Öniz from Akdeniz University has been exploring a shipwreck dating back 1,100 years, during the Abbasid rule in the 9th-10th centuries. The discoveries highlight the crucial role of olives for sailors and have unearthed a rare sealed amphora, sparking excitement among archaeologists.

The excavation, part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Legacy for the Future Project,” utilized advanced underwater robots to meticulously explore the wreck.

The shipwreck, located at a depth of 45-50 meters near Besmi Island, was found to be carrying a cargo of olive oil. According to historical accounts and the typology of amphorae discovered, the ship had set sail from the Gaza coast of Palestine before succumbing to a storm off the coast of Kaş. Dr. Öniz noted that while such amphorae are known in literature, this marks the first time they have been encountered in amphorae in Turkey.

Dr. Öniz explained that olives were an “indispensable food of sailors in the Mediterranean” for approximately 5,000 years, dating back to the Bronze Age. Their non-perishable nature made them ideal for long sea voyages. Submerged in seawater within amphorae, olives would become edible within a week and could last for months without spoiling, making them an essential provision alongside other staples like wheat and even live animals carried on board.

In a separate but related excavation at the same shipwreck site, the team also unearthed a remarkably well-preserved, sealed amphora. This discovery has generated considerable excitement as the contents of the sealed vessel remain unknown after a millennium underwater.

Following its careful retrieval from the seabed, the amphora underwent meticulous examination at Akdeniz University’s Underwater Archaeology Laboratory in Kemer. Experts painstakingly opened the seal, a process that took about an hour, and are now analyzing samples of the contents.  

Underwater footage shows the 1,100-year-old sealed amphora during an excavation off the coast of Antalya, Türkiye. Credit: AA
Underwater footage shows the 1,100-year-old sealed amphora during an excavation off the coast of Antalya, Türkiye. Credit: AA

Dr. Öniz suggested that the trade ship likely visited multiple ports, carrying not only olive oil from Gaza, a key export of the time, but potentially also wine, possibly originating from the Tekirdağ Şarköy-Gaziköy region. He speculated that the wine might have been intended for immigrants, Christian pilgrims, or as gifts for visitors to Jerusalem, as local consumption in Palestine was unlikely.

The sealed nature of the amphora for over a thousand years makes this find particularly unique. Potential contents could range from olive pits, olive oil, or wine to even fish sauce or something entirely unexpected.

Professor Meltem Asiltürk Ersoy from Akdeniz University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering emphasized the complexity of analyzing the contents after such a long period in the marine environment, noting that multiple analyses will be required to understand the transformations that may have occurred.

Restorer conservator Rabia Nur Akyüz detailed the careful process of handling the amphora, ensuring it remained continuously wet to preserve its fragile state.

As the excavation team continues their work, the findings are set to be displayed in the upcoming Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum in Kemer, further enriching our understanding of ancient trade networks and culinary practices in the Mediterranean region. The discoveries not only highlight the significance of olives in maritime history but also open new avenues for research into the daily lives of sailors and traders in antiquity.

The analysis of the sealed amphora’s contents is eagerly awaited, promising further revelations about the cargo and trade practices of the era.  

Cover Image Credit: Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration at Akdeniz University

Related Articles

Ushabti figurines on display at Izmir Archeology Museum

18 September 2021

18 September 2021

The 2,700-year-old “Ushabti” statuettes, discovered in archaeological digs in western Turkey and used in Egyptian burial ceremonies, are being shown...

Female pharaoh’s temple reveals teamwork of Egypt’s ‘ancient masters’

18 November 2021

18 November 2021

Despite the widely acknowledged monumentality and durability of ancient Egyptian sculpture, carved reliefs, and paintings the makers of these works...

Researchers able to reconstruct the development of Barbegal’s former watermills over time with the help of carbonate deposits

7 July 2024

7 July 2024

Archaeologists are faced with a difficult task: how can information be obtained about buildings or facilities of which – if...

The inner wall was reached during the excavations of the tomb of the poet Aratos in the Soli Pompeiopolis Ancient City

13 August 2021

13 August 2021

The inner wall was reached during the excavations of the tomb of Aratos, the famous poet and astronomer of the...

Slavic settlement and burial ground with two unusual graves discovered in Saxony-Anhalt

7 August 2024

7 August 2024

Archaeologists from the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology (LDA) of Saxony-Anhalt have uncovered a wealth of medieval treasures,...

An extraordinary medieval belt loop found near Kamień Pomorski in Poland

18 March 2024

18 March 2024

A late medieval belt loop for hanging keys or a bag was found near the town of Kamień Pomorski in...

Archaeologists Uncovered a 1,600-Year-Old Rare Mikveh and Synagogue in Ostia Antica, Near Rome

13 March 2025

13 March 2025

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, researchers have unearthed a 1,600-year-old rare mikveh (ritual bath) and an ancient synagogue at the...

Archaeologists found a mysterious stone tablet in Georgia that contains an unknown language

5 December 2024

5 December 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed a basalt tablet with inscriptions in an unknown language near Lake Bashplemi, in the Dmanisi region of...

Czech archaeologists discovered a unique bronze belt buckle dating back to the eighth century

12 December 2023

12 December 2023

Czech archaeologists have unearthed a bronze belt buckle from the early Middle Ages, depicting a snake devouring a frog-like creature....

Enigmas Roman Dodecahedron Uncovered by Amateur Archaeologists in the UK

24 January 2024

24 January 2024

Amateur archaeologists have unearthed a striking Roman dodecahedron in the serene countryside of Norton Disney, England, a mysterious class of...

Runic Alphabet Symbols in the Tombs Found in the Excavations in Istanbul

23 May 2021

23 May 2021

In the excavations carried out by the Istanbul Archeology Museums in the area where the metro station will be built...

Spectacular Roman Mosaics Unearthed in Thalheim bei Wels: A Unique Discovery in Upper Austria

10 June 2025

10 June 2025

Archaeologists from the University of Salzburg uncovered three exceptionally preserved Roman mosaics during excavations A remarkable archaeological discovery has captivated...

Hidden Treasure from the Thirty Years’ War: Rare Silver Coins Found in Copper Cauldron in Brandenburg

21 July 2025

21 July 2025

A rare archaeological discovery in Germany has captivated historians: Silver coins dating back to the early 17th century have been...

A Mysterious Partially Submerged Structure in Ireland is a Prehistoric Tomb, archaeologist says

25 October 2022

25 October 2022

New research has revealed that a mysterious structure found many years ago on the eastern shore of Cork Harbor in...

Mine-clearance divers discovered an ancient shipwreck dating from the 3rd century BC

25 June 2023

25 June 2023

As a result of collaborative training exercises between Croatian and Italian naval mine-clearance divers, one of the earliest fully preserved...