Ancient Kekova Shipwreck Earns Guinness World Records Recognition
The discovery was made during underwater archaeological excavations that have been underway in the area since 2024. Researchers recovered amphorae estimated to be approximately 4,700 years old, providing evidence of the wreck’s remarkable antiquity.
Hakan Oniz, head of the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at Akdeniz University's Faculty of Fine Arts, said his team had spent years conducting archaeological research along Türkiye’s Mediterranean coastline on behalf of the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
He explained that the researchers had identified numerous historically significant shipwrecks and shared their findings with the international archaeological community.
The Kekova discovery attracted considerable international attention, with coverage reaching billions of people around the world.
"This is a source of pride for us. As our president has said, Türkiye is one of the world's leading countries in underwater archaeology. In our view, it is among the top two or three countries," Oniz said.
"We have excellent infrastructure and highly qualified experts working in this field. Most importantly, we are working along one of the world's richest coastlines," he added.
Oniz confirmed that the shipwreck received official Guinness recognition this week, marking a significant achievement for the archaeological team and Türkiye’s underwater heritage research.
"The shipwreck we discovered in the Kekova region entered Guinness World Records this week as the 'world's oldest shipwreck,' and this was officially announced," he said.
He also recalled that the wreck was initially misidentified when researchers first encountered it in 2024, as the team believed it dated back to the Ottoman period.
"This shipwreck was just one of our projects. We discovered the Kekova wreck in 2024, but when we first found it, we thought it belonged to the Ottoman period," Oniz noted.
The recognition highlights the archaeological importance of Türkiye’s Mediterranean coastline and the discoveries made through ongoing underwater excavation projects in the region.
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