At least 3,300-year-old ship discovered off the northern Israel coast

NEW DELHI: A 3,300-year-old ship and its cargo have been discovered by a company drilling for natural gas off the coast of northern Israel. The discovered late Bronze Age ship is seen as one of the oldest known examples of ships sailing far from land.
The ship so far out at sea indicates that the navigation abilities of ancient seafarers were more advanced than previously thought because they could travel without a line of sight to land, the the Israel Antiquities Authority told news agency AP.
The depth at which the ship was found implies it was left undisturbed by waves, currents or fishermen over the millennia, offering greater scope for research.
"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," said Jacob Sharvit, head of the IAA marine unit, adding that two similar ships from the same era had been discovered previously, but only close to shore.
A recently discovered wooden ship, approximately 12 to 14 meters long, was found by Energean, a natural gas company, 90 kilometers off Israel's Mediterranean coast. The vessel, unearthed at a depth of 1,800 meters, is over 1,000 years old and was located using a submersible robot. Researchers believe the ship likely navigated by the sun and stars and might have sunk due to a storm or a pirate attack.
Energean found the vessel buried under hundreds of ancient jugs, all of which were fully intact. The company encountered the ship about a year ago while conducting routine operations in Israel's territorial waters.
Traditionally, researchers assumed that trade during this era was conducted by boats sailing close to the shore. These boats moved from port to port, constantly keeping an eye on the land. However, this new discovery suggests a different navigation practice.
"The newly discovered boat's sailors probably used the sun and the stars to find their way," said Sharvit.
The Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) confirmed that the boat and its cargo are intact. The ship currently remains on the sea floor, and there are no immediate plans to retrieve it.