TEL AVIV, Israel. A natural gas company drilling off the coast of northern Israel has uncovered a 3,300-year-old ship and its cargo, shedding new light on the advanced navigation skills of ancient mariners. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the remarkable find on Thursday, noting its significance as one of the oldest known examples of a ship navigating far from land.
The late Bronze Age vessel was discovered by Energean, a company operating deep-sea natural gas fields in Israel’s territorial waters. The ship was located approximately 90 kilometers (55 miles) off Israel’s Mediterranean coast at a depth of 1,800 meters (1.1 miles). The IAA highlighted that such a deep and remote discovery suggests ancient seafarers had more sophisticated navigation abilities than previously believed, as they could travel without a line of sight to land.
“The discovery of this boat now changes our entire understanding of ancient mariner abilities. It is the very first to be found at such a great distance with no line of sight to any landmass,” said Jacob Sharvit, head of the IAA marine unit. He added that while two similar ships from the same era had been found previously, those were discovered close to shore.
Sharvit explained that until now, researchers assumed trade during that period was conducted by boats sailing close to the shore, keeping land in sight while moving from port to port. The sailors of the newly discovered boat likely navigated using the sun and stars.
Energean uses a submersible robot to scour the sea floor as part of its operations. About a year ago, the robot encountered the 12 to 14 meter (39 to 45 foot) long ship, buried under the muddy bottom and nestled beneath hundreds of ancient jugs. These jugs, believed to be Canaanite, were likely used for carrying oil, wine, or fruit.
The ship’s intact condition is attributed to the great depth at which it was found, having remained undisturbed by waves, currents, or fishermen over the millennia. The IAA noted that the vessel appeared to have sunk either due to a storm or an attack by pirates.
For now, the ship remains underwater. However, Energean collaborated with the IAA to retrieve two of the jugs, bringing them to the surface for further research.
This discovery not only enhances our understanding of ancient maritime trade but also provides a unique glimpse into the capabilities of Bronze Age sailors who ventured far from the safety of the coastline.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
