TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A company drilling for natural gas off the coast of northern Israel has discovered a 3,300-year-old ship and its cargo, one of the oldest known examples of a ship that sailed far from land, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Thursday.
The discovery of the late Bronze Age ship so far out at sea indicates that ancient seafarers’ navigation skills were more advanced than previously thought, as they could travel to land without visibility, the IAA said.
The great depth at which the ship was found means it has remained untouched by waves, currents or fishermen over the millennia, offering greater potential for research, the report said.
“The discovery of this boat now changes our entire understanding of the skills of ancient sailors. It is the very first to be found at such a great distance, without any line of sight to any landmass,” said Jacob Sharvit, head of the IAA’s naval unit, adding that two similar ships from the same era have previously been found have been discovered, but only close to the coast.
Sharvit said researchers until now believed the trade at that time was carried out by boats sailing close to the coast and keeping an eye on the land as they sailed from port to port. He said the sailors of the newly discovered boat likely used the sun and stars to find their way.
The wooden ship sank about 90 kilometers (55 miles) off Israel’s Mediterranean coast and was discovered at a depth of 1,800 meters (1.1 miles) by Energean, a natural gas company that operates a number of deep-sea natural gas fields in Israel’s territorial waters. .
In its work, Energean said it uses an underwater robot to search the seabed. About a year ago, it came across a 40- to 45-foot-long ship buried beneath the muddy bottom, nestled beneath hundreds of jugs dating back thousands of years.
The boat and its cargo were completely intact, the IAA said, adding that the ship appeared to have sunk during a storm or after being attacked by pirates.
The ship will not be picked up for the time being.
Energean worked with the IAA to retrieve two of the jugs, which were likely used to transport oil, wine or fruit, and bring them to the surface for examination.
The IAA identified the Canaanites as Canaanites, a people who lived in the lands bordering the eastern Mediterranean.
