Ancient sailors had remarkable skills that have been recently discovered in the Mediterranean. A wreck, believed to be over 3,300 years old, was found off the northern coast of Israel at a depth of 1,800 meters. The wreck contains hundreds of intact amphorae, ancient storage vessels that provide evidence of their navigational abilities.
According to Jacob Sharvit, head of the IAA marine unit, this discovery is the first and oldest of its kind in the region. Experts believe that sailors likely navigated using celestial navigation, taking direction from the sun and stars. This reveals their impressive orientation skills despite being unable to see any landlines or coasts.
The cargo from this ancient shipwreck was discovered by robot submarines from an oil exploration company. Only two amphorae were removed using special tools to avoid damaging the rest. This unique discovery challenges previous academic beliefs that trade in the Late Bronze Age occurred within line of sight to the coast. Instead, it suggests that ancient mariners were capable of sailing great distances without any landlines in view.
This wreck found off the coast of Israel sheds new light on seafaring capabilities in ancient civilizations thousands of years ago. The discoveries demonstrate their proficiency in celestial navigation and long-distance trade routes, challenging our understanding of their navigational abilities and trade practices.
Overall, this discovery is a testament to the extraordinary skills and knowledge possessed by ancient sailors who could navigate vast distances without modern technology or resources.
