Cargo from ‘most ancient’ shipwreck found off Israel

Only two of the amphorae – believed to have been used by the Canaanite people who lived in an area stretching from modern-day Turkey to Egpyt – were removed using specially designed tools, so as not to disturb the remaining artefacts.

Mr Bahartan described their discovery as a “truly sensational find”.

He said that only two other shipwrecks with cargo are known from the late Bronze Age in the Mediterranean Sea, both of which were found relatively close to the Turkish coast using normal diving equipment.

“Based on these two finds, the academic assumption until now was that trade in that time was executed by safely flitting from port to port, hugging the coastline within eye contact,” Mr Bahartan said.

“The discovery of this boat now changes our entire understanding of ancient mariner abilities.

“It is the very first to be found at such a great distance with no line of sight to any landmass,” he said.

The jars are expected to go on display this summer at the National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem.