2,000-Year-Old Shipwreck Uncovered Off Türkiye’s Coast – And It’s Incredibly Intact

Just off the coast of Adrasan in southern Türkiye, archaeologists have made an astonishing discovery — a 2,000-year-old shipwreck lying beneath the waves, holding hundreds of beautifully preserved ceramic vessels dating back to the Late Hellenistic–Early Roman period.

Resting between 33 and 46 metres deep in the Mediterranean Sea, the wreck was found loaded with Eastern sigillata pottery – a popular style of red-slip tableware that once travelled widely across the ancient Mediterranean world. Experts have already identified at least 25 unique ceramic forms. Remarkably, the ancient cargo had been protected with a clever layer of raw clay before being packed, helping the items survive for two millennia beneath layers of sand.

And there’s more exciting news: Türkiye has announced plans to begin building a brand new Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology Museum in the Kemer-Idyros region. While construction begins, conservation specialists at the local Restoration and Conservation Laboratory are working to ensure the site and its artefacts are protected and preserved.

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism — who dove personally to view the site — noted that over 400 shipwrecks have been found just between Patara and Mersin alone. He called the findings “not just archaeologically significant, but a powerful opportunity to boost cultural tourism.”

This shipwreck is a rare glimpse into the ancient world — revealing not only what people used and traded, but also the methods they used to produce, package, and protect their goods.

Türkiye is fast becoming a leader in archaeological exploration, with 765 digs carried out last year and a goal to reach 800 annually by 2026.

If you’re feeling inspired to explore Türkiye’s deep history yourself, you can already visit the Antalya Archaeology Museum or the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology both showcasing treasures from past expeditions.

Or, if you’re more hands-on, you can head to some of Türkiye’s most incredible dive sites. Popular underwater hotspots include Kaş, Fethiye, and the Gallipoli Historical Underwater Park in Çanakkale.

The ancient world is closer than you think and in Türkiye, it’s waiting just beneath the surface.

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