3,300-Year-Old Shipwreck Discovered Off Coast of Israel

A shipwreck dating back more than 3,000 years has been discovered off the northern coast of Israel, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. The discovery was made in the Mediterranean Sea at a depth of over 1,500 meters by Energyn, a company based in London, which operates off the coast of Israel.

The vessel's cargo included hundreds of amphorae—ceramic jars used during the Bronze Age to store products such as wine and olive oil, indicating the vessel’s role in ancient maritime trade. Jacob Sharvit, Director of the Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, suggested that the ship might have sunk due to a storm or pirate attack, a common occurrence in the late Bronze Age.

The wreckage was located last year, approximately 90 kilometers off Israel’s northern coast, and dates back to the 14th or 13th century BCE, a time when maritime trade was flourishing.

Karnit Bahartan from Energyn said, "Our team found a significant number of jars during a seabed survey." She added, "When we sent the images to the Antiquities Authority, it turned out to be a more exciting discovery than we had imagined."

Sharvit further noted that the remote location of the find suggests that ancient sailors were capable of voyaging without sight of the coast, possibly using the stars and the sun for navigation.

He described the find as "a historic discovery with global significance."

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced that "a portion of the discovered items will soon be displayed to the public," promising further insights into ancient maritime practices and trade networks.