What Secrets Lie Within the 1,100-Year-Old Amphora Recovered Off Antalya’s Coast?

Scientists discovered an old amphora during submarine digs near the coastline of the Kaş region in Antalya. This earthenware container, which dates back roughly 1,100 years, was salvaged from a sunken ship located around 45 to 50 meters beneath the surface.

Specialists from the Antalya Regional Council along with lab restorers slowly uncovered the amphora’s opening utilizing chisels, hammers, and tiny instruments over roughly one hour. Conservator Rabia Nur Akyüz, who handled both the salt extraction and the unsealing of the amphora’s top, mentioned that they proceeded cautiously to ensure the amphora remained continually moist, thus avoiding damage to its surface layers. “With great care, we made sure not to let the surfaces of the amphora dry out,” stated Akyüz. Haberler .

When the amphora was unsealed, researchers endeavored to comprehend its contents by scrutinizing the substance within for texture, composition, and aroma. To start this investigation, they utilized microscopes and specialized magnifiers. Specialists then commenced their analytical tasks by extracting specimens from the amphora’s interior to ascertain the nature of the retrieved elements.

Professor Dr. Meltem Asiltürk Ersoy from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Akdeniz University mentioned that she would inspect the contents within a sealed amphora as part of her professional journey for the very first time. She emphasized, “It’s crucial to understand that scientific research does not rely solely on one form of examination; multiple tests must corroborate each other. Hence, this investigation will require considerable time,” reported Ersoy. T24 "We aim to comprehend the events that transpired over this 1,100-year span within the marine ecosystem, considering both the impacts of pressure and temperature fluctuations," she explained.

“I believe it might contain olive stones, olive oil, wine, or fish sauce, yet it could equally well hold something entirely unexpected. This makes the entire experience particularly thrilling as this amphora has remained sealed shut. Having been unopened for approximately 1,100 years, we’re now set to discover its contents through our analytical procedures once the seal is broken. The moment of opening proved exhilarating; however, anticipating the final findings promises even greater excitement,” stated Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Öniz, who leads the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage department at Akdeniz University’s Faculty of Fine Arts and serves as an academic consultant for the archaeological dig, reported Anadolu Agency.

After passing through several stages, the amphora was transported to the Underwater Archaeology Laboratory at Akdeniz University in Kemer without being immediately brought onto land. The team intends to share their findings with the scientific and archaeological communities. As stated by Ersoy, they aim to combine the analytical data with historical details before presenting them to these fields: “By integrating our analysis outcomes with insights from that era, we will unveil our discoveries to the academic community.”

The archaeological dive team, representing the Antalya Museum as part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Future Heritage Initiative, is carrying out digs on Besmi Island within the Kaş region. This operation, overseen by Öniz alongside a group of twenty divers, aims to reveal relics submerged beneath the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. To aid in collecting items from these deep locations, they have employed robotic assistance.

"During that time, Gaza’s significant export item was olive oil, and potentially wine was shipped out of Tekirdağ Şarköy-Gaziköy," stated Öniz as reported by Star. "From examining the potential wine-bearing amphorae found on board, we believe that the inhabitants of Palestine did not consume much wine themselves; instead, these items were likely presents for migrants, Christian pilgrims, or visitors heading to Jerusalem," he further noted.

Oniz indicated that the trading vessel which sunk along the Mediterranean coastline probably because of a potential storm most likely originated from the coast of Gaza in Palestine about 1,100 years ago. He mentioned, “This particular trading ship made stops at several harbors. The timeframe was between the 9th and 10th centuries, under the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate, thus marking an era of Islamic dominion.”

Experts have pointed out that discovering an unsealed amphora of such an old age is extremely uncommon globally, which makes this find quite significant. “It’s extraordinary that the amphora’s opening has stayed sealed for more than a millennium,” stated Öniz.

Photographs were taken of the amphora’s opening and the contents removed, documenting the team's enthusiasm at this pivotal moment. The Anadolu Ajansı crew recorded video footage of the amphora being opened and the items inside it being examined.

The team initiated their examination by collecting specimens from within the materials, anticipating that these could advance our understanding in the realm of archaeology. With each step forward in this process, those involved in the study eagerly await insights into ancient trade activities and the movement of goods throughout the Mediterranean region spanning over a thousand years prior. “It was thrilling to open it up; however, awaiting the outcome is even more exhilarating,” remarked Öniz.

This initiative highlights the extensive historical legacy concealed under the waters of the Mediterranean and showcases the methodologies currently employed in the field of underwater archaeology. By integrating meticulous handwork with robot support, the group’s strategy paves the way for upcoming submarine explorations.

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