A remarkable discovery off the coast of Turkey has unveiled a shipwreck that offers crucial insights into ancient trade routes between Gaza and the Mediterranean world. The ship, which sank over 1,100 years ago, was transporting amphorae filled with olive oil, emphasizing the importance of this product in ancient maritime commerce.
Unveiling the Shipwreck’s Secrets
According to The Jerusalem Post, The shipwreck was found at a depth of 45–50 meters off the coast of Antalya, near Besmi Adası, as part of the Heritage to the Future Project, which aims to uncover and preserve Turkey’s cultural heritage.
Identified by experts as a Philistine merchant vessel from the 9th to 10th century AD, the wreck was transporting amphorae—large ceramic jars—filled with olive oil. These amphorae, a common cargo for Mediterranean merchants, have been traced back to Gaza, a region renowned for its olive oil production.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Hakan Öniz, the head of the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Restoration at Akdeniz University, the ship likely sank after being caught in a storm and striking a rock or small island near Kaş.
The location of the wreck is known but is difficult to access due to the depth, limiting traditional diving operations. For this reason, underwater robots were used to carry out the excavations, allowing the team to study the wreck in great detail.
Olive Oil: A Vital Cargo for Sailors
The discovery of olive oil on the ship underscores its importance as a vital food source for sailors during antiquity. For over 5,000 years, olives have been a staple in Mediterranean diets, especially for sailors on long voyages.
Olives could be stored without spoiling and were a valuable source of vitamin E, essential for maintaining sailors’ immune systems during long journeys across the Mediterranean. As Professor Öniz explained, olives were ideal for storing in seawater, where they could become edible within a week and last for months without deteriorating.
The shipwreck offers a rare insight into how ancient mariners relied on olives as part of their sustenance, alongside other provisions like live animals and wheat for making bread. The discovery reinforces the idea that olive oil was not only a valuable trade commodity but also a life-sustaining food source for those traveling across the seas.
Gaza’s Role as a Trade Hub
The amphorae discovered in the wreck played a crucial role in identifying the ship’s origin. The distinctive form of the amphorae was specific to the Gaza region, making it possible for researchers to trace the cargo back to Palestine.
Gaza, known for its thriving olive oil industry during the 9th and 10th centuries, played an important role in Mediterranean trade. The ship, loaded with olive oil, was likely transporting its cargo to a destination across the Mediterranean when it met its untimely end.
The wreck not only confirms Gaza’s central role in ancient trade networks but also provides valuable archaeological evidence of the kinds of goods that were exchanged between Mediterranean civilizations.
The olive oil transported by the ship would have been highly sought after for both its nutritional value and its use in various industries, including cosmetics, medicinal applications, and cooking.
New Insights into Ancient Maritime Trade
This excavation is providing archaeologists with new perspectives on ancient trade routes, particularly those linking Palestine to the Mediterranean world. The wreck’s contents—amphorae filled with olive oil—serve as a tangible reminder of the extensive trade networks that existed in antiquity.
These networks helped facilitate the exchange of goods and cultural ideas across the Mediterranean, contributing to the growth of civilizations throughout the region.
The findings are also significant in that they highlight the role of maritime trade in sustaining ancient economies. Olives, as a key export from Gaza, were integral to these economic systems, and the shipwreck illustrates how these trade routes were vital not only for commerce but for the survival of sailors.
