Archaeologists have discovered the wreckage of a ship that sank around 2,100 years ago in the Mediterranean off the coast of Turkey. On board were thousands of luxury ceramic vessels that have remained almost completely intact.
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The cargo includes vases, plates, bowls and trays of various sizes and shapes. The discovery is expected to provide further insight into the trade in luxury goods, as well as dining habits in ancient Rome.
Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced that underwater excavations launched in 2025 had uncovered thousands of objects transported by the ship.
The wreck lies around 55 metres below the surface of the sea, near Adrasan in the Antalya region. Researchers believe the ship departed from the ancient settlement of Ruso, in what is now Hatay province, and was bound for Rome. According to their hypothesis, a storm forced the ship into a shallow area, causing it to sink.
So far, excavations have identified thousands of ceramic vessels, including plates, bowls and trays belonging to 122 different shapes and sizes. These objects reflect the level of luxury in the culinary culture of wealthy sections of Roman society.
The finds also include ceramic vessels produced on various Aegean islands. Their presence indicates that the cargo had been assembled from several production centres and that maritime trade networks connected different parts of the Mediterranean.
The significance of the discovery is also linked to historical evidence of the reputation of Ruso’s pottery among wealthy buyers. In a letter that the Roman orator and philosopher Cicero sent to his friend Atticus in 50 BC, he mentioned an order for ceramic vessels from this settlement, demonstrating the demand for these products in Roman society.
Archaeologists have also highlighted how the objects were preserved. The vessels had been carefully arranged inside wooden crates, while the spaces between them were filled with clay to protect them from breaking during the journey.
After the ship sank, this packing system appears to have functioned as a natural protective layer. It reduced damage and helped most of the cargo survive.
Coins dating from the 1st century BC were also found at the wreck site. They helped researchers determine the period of the ship’s final voyage.
Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy described the discovery as important evidence of Anatolia’s ceramic-making tradition and of the trade relations that crossed the Mediterranean in antiquity.
