The number of shipwrecks recorded in the inventory through underwater archaeology surface surveys conducted along the shores of Antalya has reached 365, dating back to the 7th century BCE to the 12th century CE.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Öniz and his team, leading the excavation of the Middle Bronze Age Shipwreck in Kumluca, conducted underwater archaeology surface surveys along the coasts of Antalya and Mersin with the permissions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Using advanced technology sonar devices and robots, the team discovered 15 new shipwrecks along the Antalya coast under challenging conditions. In addition to the excavations of the Kumluca Middle Bronze Age Shipwreck, hailed as the "oldest known shipwreck" in the world, the discovery of new shipwrecks loaded with amphorae added excitement to the project. With these findings, the total number of shipwrecks recorded in the region over 12 years has now reached 365.
Holding the position of the Head of the Mediterranean Underwater Cultural Heritage Department at the Institute of Mediterranean Civilizations Research of Akdeniz University, Öniz also serves as the Head of the Mediterranean Underwater Cultural Heritage Department. He told AA correspondent that they reached significant shipwrecks during the 45-day underwater archaeology surface surveys this year.
Öniz emphasized the use of advanced technology in the research, stating, "We conducted the work with one of the world's most modern archaeological vessels. We utilized advanced sonar devices and underwater robots. By employing tool-assisted diving technology, we achieved significant results."
He mentioned that they carried out the studies with the support of the UPL Agriculture company and added, "With their support, we have added 15 archaeological shipwrecks dating from the 7th century BCE to the 12th century CE to the national inventory this year."
Hakan Öniz mentioned that excavating a shipwreck can sometimes take up to 10 years, emphasizing the importance of the oldest shipwreck for archaeologists.
He stated that they create three-dimensional models for each shipwreck, saying, 'In some wrecks, ships sank at 5 meters depth by hitting the coast, while others sank at depths of 45-50 meters. Ships hitting the coast are sometimes exposed to storms for 2 thousand years. The cargo and wood of the ship disintegrate. Since storms do not affect the deep wrecks, we can have an idea about the dimensions and cargo of the ship.'
Öniz drew attention to the negative effects of waves, storms, and marine life on shipwrecks, saying, "Finding a ship like in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie is not possible."
Highlighting the challenges of underwater research, Öniz concluded his remarks by saying, "Every shipwreck we find creates great excitement. Each shipwreck is a time capsule for its own period in terms of history. For example, if we are excavating a shipwreck dated to the 12th century CE, we can access coins, ship technology, maritime trade, and various information about amphorae from that period. If it's a shipwreck from the 7th century BCE, carrying amphorae from Cyprus, sunk off the coast of Demre, we might think that it transported materials such as olive oil, wine, or fish sauce produced in Cyprus to an ancient city on the shores of Demre or further west."