World's oldest shipwreck found in Black Sea

"I still can't believe that there is a ship from the ancient world, more than 2 km below the surface of the water, still intact. This discovery is very important. It will provide more information and may change our understanding of shipbuilding and seafaring in ancient times," said Professor Jon Adams, principal investigator of the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project (MAP).

The world's oldest shipwreck has just been found at the bottom of the Black Sea.

Even more special, this oldest ship in the world is identified by researchers as a cargo ship and was once sketched on a famous ancient Greek ceramic vase, currently on display at the British Museum.

Previously, after using the radiocarbon analysis method, researchers were extremely surprised to know that this was the oldest intact shipwreck known to mankind up to the present time.

This ancient ship still has its mast, rudder, and benches intact. The entire ship is about 23m long.

Lying at the bottom of the sea in an environment with almost no oxygen, this shipwreck has been preserved almost intact.

After analyzing and explaining the reason why the world's oldest ship is still quite intact, researchers believe that it is located at a depth of up to 2 km under the seabed in an anaerobic environment with no oxygen, so the organic matter on the ship is still almost intact after more than 2,400 years.

During the three years before discovering this ancient shipwreck, researchers had to use a special remote-controlled camera system in deep water.