20 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

“Last Rhodes shipwreck” of Roman period found in Turkey’s Fethiye

Turkish researchers, a Rhodes shipwreck from the third century A.D. was discovered in the depths of the Gulf of Fethiye as part of the Turkish Shipwreck Inventory Project: Blue Heritage (TUBEP).

The underwater cultural legacy of the Fethiye coast has been mapped by researchers from Dokuz Eylül University (DEU) Marine Sciences and Technology Institute as part of the Turkish Shipwreck Inventory Project, which is financed by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget.

A Rhodes shipwreck dating from the 3rd century AD was found during the studies carried out by a team of scientists from different disciplines under the leadership of Associate Professor Harun Özdaş, Deputy Director of DEU Marine Sciences and Technology Institute.

A photo of amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)
A photo of amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)

The latest works of the researchers revealed the shipwreck of Rhodes, which is discovered as three heaps on a 28-38 meter (92-125 feet) slope underwater. The shipwreck mainly features amphorae (a type of container) used for the transportation of commercial products.

The shipwreck was judged to be the “last Rhodes shipwreck” from the Roman period. The findings of the study were published in the Turkish Journal of Archeology and Ethnography.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



A photo of amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)
A photo of amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)

The presidency of DEU Marine Sciences and Technology Institute Vice Director associate Dr. Harun Özdaş told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they are mapping the underwater cultural heritage in the Turkish seas as part of the Turkish Shipwreck Inventory Project: Blue Heritage.

Noting that they attached special importance to the Gulf of Fethiye in the geography that opens to the Mediterranean during their studies, Özdaş said, “The most important finding of our study is the Fethiye Karaburun Rhodes shipwreck. It is a shipwreck that we date to the end of the 3rd century A.D., and its main cargo is amphorae.”

A researcher records amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)
A researcher records amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)

Özdaş stated that they detected “heaps” about 20 meters from the shore during the underwater survey and gave the following information: “The findings started as debris at a depth of 28 meters and a heap appeared on a slope of 30-38 meters. The amphora form with spur-handles shows the last production of Rhodes. After the 3rd century A.D., the production of these amphoras was halted. This is the only shipwreck example on the Turkish coast dated to this period. Therefore, we can say that we have reached the latest Rhodes shipwreck belonging to the Roman Period here.”

Explaining that the shipwreck consisted of amphora cargo as the wooden parts of the ship disintegrated underwater, Özdaş stated that they think the merchant ship, which might have sunk due to the storm, was 20-30 meters long.

A photo of amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)

Expressing that a crew of six, including the captain, served on the merchant ships of the period, Özdaş said that Rhodes was a major main port at that time and controlled the geography of the Anatolian mainland apart from the islands.

Özdaş added, “The Rhodes amphorae found in the shipwreck probably carried products from the region of the Gulf of Fethiye. Agricultural productions were transported to Rhodes after being packaged. From there, they were sent to Mediterranean countries and European shores.”

The vice director also pointed out that within the scope of the “Turkish Shipwreck Inventory Project: Blue Heritage,” approximately 40 shipwrecks on the Aegean coast were identified and recorded to date.

Cover Photo: A researcher records amphorae found in the Rhodes shipwreck in the Gulf of Fethiye, southwestern Turkey. (AA Photo)

Related Articles

Unique work of Minoan art, the Pylos Combat Agate must be the David of the Prehistoric era

21 November 2021

21 November 2021

Found in a Greek tomb dating back 3,500 years, the artifact is so well designed that it looks as lively...

7,000-Year-Old Canoes Reveal Early Development of Nautical Technology in Mediterranean

21 March 2024

21 March 2024

The discovery of five “technologically sophisticated” canoes in Italy has revealed that  Neolithic people were navigating the Mediterranean more than...

Unearthing the Origins of Carnival: Evidence of Ancient Summer Festivals in Pre-Colonial Brazil

11 February 2025

11 February 2025

A new study suggests that pre-colonial people in Brazil gathered during the summer months to feast on migratory fish and...

Do Byzantine coins Record the Supernova of 1054?

25 June 2022

25 June 2022

SN 1054 was one of the most spectacular astronomical events of all time. The supernova explosion eventually formed what is...

A 13th-Century Italian Fresco Reveals the Medieval Church’s Use of Islamic Altar Tents

3 February 2025

3 February 2025

A recently rediscovered 13th-century fresco in Ferrara, Italy, offers significant insights into the medieval practice of utilizing Islamic tents to...

DNA Analysis Reveals Identifies the Genetic Makeup of Piceni the Most Fascinating Civilizations of Pre-Roman Italy

24 November 2024

24 November 2024

A study conducted by an international team coordinated by Sapienza University of Rome and the Italian National Research Council (CNR)...

Rare 15th-Century Coin Hoard of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Unearthed in Smolensk: The ‘Dollar of the Middle Ages’ Found

2 October 2025

2 October 2025

Smolensk archaeologists uncover 48 medieval silver coins, including Prague groschen — widely known as the ‘Dollar of the Middle Ages’...

Stone Age Loved to Dance to the Rhythm of the Elk Tooth Rattles

4 June 2021

4 June 2021

Thousands of years ago, people danced frequently and to the rhythm. This is the conclusion of the discovery of elk...

The Oldest “Book” of Europe: Derveni Papyrus

4 September 2022

4 September 2022

The Derveni papyrus is considered Europe’s oldest legible manuscript still in existence today. It is an ancient Greek papyrus roll...

Researchers reveal the 4,500-year-old network of funerary avenues in Arabian Peninsula

15 January 2022

15 January 2022

Archaeologists from the University of Western Australia (UWA) have determined that people living in ancient northwest Arabia built long-distance “funerary...

3,500-Year-Old Hittite Linen Fabric Exhibited for the First Time

10 March 2025

10 March 2025

A remarkable artifact, a piece of Hittite linen fabric dating back 3,500 years, has been publicly exhibited for the first...

4 Aztec child burials unearthed in Mexico and dated to the Early Colonial period may be indicators of Aztec resistance

6 July 2022

6 July 2022

During an archaeological rescue effort in Mexico City’s historic central district of La Lagunilla, the remains of an Aztec house...

2000-years-old Hercules Rock Relief is being Vandalized

17 February 2024

17 February 2024

The 2000-year-old Hercules Rock Relief, located in Deliktaş, approximately 2.5 kilometers northeast of the Iznik district center of Bursa, is...

The free online course from the Colchester Museums and University of Reading Department of Archeology

12 July 2021

12 July 2021

The opportunity to be among the first to examine 2,000-year-old cremated remains from Roman Britain and learn about the origins...

Remains of a 12-year-old boy wearing a bronze warrior belt found in Pontecagnano

6 July 2021

6 July 2021

The remains of a 12-year-old boy wearing a bronze warrior belt were found at Pontecagnano, an outpost of the pre-Roman...