Discovery of a Shipwreck in Turkey Containing the Largest Cargo of Pottery

Turkish scientists have discovered a shipwreck containing the largest cargo of pottery, dating back 1,500 years, off the coast of Ayvalık in Balıkesir Province, Turkey.

This discovery is part of a project led by a team of Turkish archaeologists and academics, under the direction of Harun Özdaş, the Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies at 9 Eylül University.

The discovery was made as part of the "Blue Heritage: Turkey’s Underwater Shipwrecks" project, supported by the Turkish Presidency and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The project aims to identify submerged cultural heritage along the Turkish coasts and create detailed maps using advanced technology.

The ongoing research also includes creating detailed maps of the region using this cutting-edge technology.

Harun Özdaş, Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies at 9 Eylül University, stated that this year’s focus of the "Blue Heritage" project is specifically on research in the Northern Aegean Sea. The aim is to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) dedicated to submerged maritime cultural heritage.

He continued: "After precisely locating the site, we conducted a series of diving activities using advanced techniques to examine the wreck. Unlike previous discoveries that often involved finding amphorae (ceramic jars),"

He added, "In this case, we found large stacks of plates, carefully arranged in groups, stacked on top of each other. Based on initial analysis and estimates, we believe the ship came from North Africa or Cyprus, heading towards Istanbul when it sank due to a strong storm off the coast of Ayvalık."

Özdaş explained that the discovered ship is about 15 meters long and 9 meters wide. The research team also found a small quantity of amphorae next to the plates, which constituted a significant portion of the cargo.

He emphasized that historical records indicate that ceramics produced in regions such as Cyprus, North Africa, Egypt, and Syria were regularly transported to Anatolia, Greece, or Italy. He pointed out that the collection of plates found in the wreck is very rare, making it a discovery of great historical and archaeological value.

For her part, the Deputy Director of the Institute, Dr. Nilhan Kızıldağ, stated that the site contains approximately 10,000 ceramic plates, making it a unique discovery in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.

Experts have reported that the wreck is well-preserved due to its deep location, away from the usual environmental impacts.