5th century shipwreck found in Turkish waters containing 10,000 ceramic tableware

A cargo-laden shipwreck from the late 5th century AD has been discovered off the coast of Ayvalik in western Türkiye. Exploration of the site by a robotic submersible revealed approximately 10,000 ceramic vessels within the wreck, making it the largest ever discovery of archaeological tableware in the Aegean and Mediterranean.

The cargo and ship were in good condition and well preserved at a depth of 141 feet. It remained in its original condition, unbroken and untouched by predators. The vessel was approximately 50 feet long and 30 feet wide and may have originated in North Africa or Cyprus. The ship was bound for Constantinople but sank in a storm in the Aegean Sea 2.5 nautical miles from the modern coastal town of Ayvalik.

The quality, variety and quantity of the dishes it offers are outstanding. There are five or six different shapes of models. They are found clustered together, nested in 15 or 20 plates. There are also a small number of amphorae. Most shipwrecks from this period are found to contain large quantities of amphorae, which were delivery systems for consumer goods such as olive oil, wine, and the ubiquitous fish oil.

[Associate professor Harun Özdaş, the director of the Underwater Research Center (SUDEMER) at Dokuz Eylül University,] It was explained that the discovery is part of the Blue Heritage project, which this year is focusing on the northern Aegean Sea. The project aims to create a geographic information system for underwater cultural heritage and acoustically map the area using sonar technology. Anomalies were detected at a depth of 43 meters, leading to the discovery of the wreck site.

“Our high-tech equipment allows us to dive and locate the wreck,” Ozdas said. “Our advanced robotic systems made this discovery possible because the wreck is located 2.5 miles from shore in 43 meters of water. This area is beyond standard diving capabilities.” […]

Özdas also noted that ceramics produced in regions such as Cyprus, North Africa, Egypt and Syria were often traded and transported to Anatolia, Greece or Italy. However, so far there is no clear underwater evidence of such trading activity. The discovery of this sunken ship, which contained nearly 10,000 planks, is unprecedented in scale and significance.