Israel reveals treasure from oldest ‘ghost ship’ in Eastern Mediterranean in shocking discovery

A recent archaeological discovery has shocked the scientific community: a 3,300-year-old “ghost ship” has been found off the coast of Israel. This ship, packed with cargo, promises to disrupt our current understanding of ancient maritime history. Dating back to the 13th century BC, it is the oldest shipwreck ever found in the deep waters of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Two of the ancient vases from the “ghost ship” were brought to the surface for study, still intact – Photo: ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

Discovery and historical significance

According to Sci-News, Dr. Jacob Sharvit, head of the Marine Archaeology Unit at the Israel Antiquities Authority, has called this discovery world-class. It promises to provide valuable information that could change what we know about ancient maritime history. The ship, which measures between 12 and 14 meters long, appears to have sunk during a crisis, possibly due to a storm or a pirate attack, about 90 km off the coast of Israel.

Images captured by a diving robot show the ship buried in mud – Photo: ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY

Dangerous routes and navigation skills

This was an extremely dangerous route for ancient navigators, indicating that they had to have special means to navigate the sea. During those ancient times, navigation generally relied on coastal routes. However, this area of open sea offered nothing more than a horizon. To navigate, they probably used the celestial bodies, observing the angles of the Sun and the positions of the stars, suggesting that the astronomical knowledge of the people of this area was ahead of their time.

Treasure on the ship. Illustrative photo

Treasure under the sea

The ship still holds an important treasure: it is filled with amphorae, ancient containers that were used to store various items, including products for long-distance trade. With a history of more than 3,300 years, these ancient containers are considered a great treasure. The contents of these containers could provide valuable data on ancient commercial activities. This discovery was made during an environmental study of the seabed carried out by a team from the London-based natural gas production company Energean.

The boat. Illustrative photo

Complex and potential research

Treasure on the ship. Illustrative photo

So far, only the top layer of the ship has been studied. The research is quite complex because the ship is located in very deep waters, which forces scientists to use robots for its exploration. Now, archaeologists have discovered a second layer of artifacts beneath the first, indicating that the structure of the ship could be well preserved under the mud.

The discovery of the 3,300-year-old “ghost ship” off the coast of Israel is not only a significant archaeological achievement, but also opens a new chapter in the history of ancient maritime navigation. The secrets held by the ship and its cargo promise to provide valuable information, helping humanity better understand the navigational skills, commercial activities, and astronomical knowledge of ancient peoples. This groundbreaking discovery offers profound new insights into a distant historical period.