Antalya: A 1,100-year-old sealed amphora has been discovered in a shipwreck off the coast of Kas, Antalya, during an underwater excavation utilizing robotic technology, officials have reported. The excavation was led by Associate Professor Hakan Oniz of Akdeniz University as part of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry's "Heritage for the Future Project," with a team of 20 divers working on behalf of the Antalya Museum.

According to Anadolu Agency, the team conducted meticulous work to retrieve the amphora from a depth of approximately 45 to 50 meters. Before it was brought ashore, the amphora was carefully processed and transported to Akdeniz University's Underwater Archaeology Laboratory for further examination. Experts used microscopes and precision tools to open its sealed mouth, a process that took about an hour. Samples from inside the amphora were collected for analysis of its texture, contents, and scent to determine what it once stored.

The retrieval and opening of the amphora were filmed by Anadolu. Oniz noted that the ship, believed to have originated from Gaza around 1,100 years ago, likely sank off the Mediterranean coast during a storm.

Oniz further explained to Anadolu that during the 9th and 10th centuries, under Abbasid and Islamic rule, olive oil was Gaza's primary export, while wine was produced in Tekirdag in northwestern Trkiye. He suggested that the trade ship made several port stops. Although the amphoras on the ship possibly contained wine, he speculated that it was unlikely for consumption by the people of Palestine. Instead, the wine might have been intended as gifts for migrants, Christian pilgrims, or visitors to Jerusalem.