Ancient Shipwrecks Uncovered Off Turkey, Madagascar Reveal Historic Maritime Treasures

Marine archaeologists have uncovered two significant shipwreck discoveries shedding light on ancient maritime history. Off the coast of Turkey near Antalya, a 2,000-year-old shipwreck from the Late Hellenistic-Early Roman period was found containing exceptionally well-preserved ceramic ware, including bowls, plates, and pots, all maintained in their original stacked arrangement due to a unique raw clay coating that protected them from corrosion. Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy highlighted the find as invaluable for both Turkish heritage and global cultural history. Meanwhile, near Madagascar’s Sainte-Marie Island, researchers from the Centre for Historic Shipwreck Preservation identified a pirate-captured Portuguese vessel from 1721, believed to be the Nossa Senhora do Cabo, which was carrying treasure worth over $138 million in today’s currency. The 16-year investigation recovered thousands of artifacts including religious items linked to Goa, revealing the ship’s historical voyage and its capture by pirates led by Olivier Levasseur. These discoveries provide remarkable insights into ancient trade networks, pirate activity, and preservation techniques across different eras and regions.