The discovery of the Uluburun shipwreck off the coast of Turkey stands as one of the most significant maritime archaeological finds of the 20th century. Dating back to the late Bronze Age, approximately 14th century BCE, this shipwreck provides a rare and invaluable glimpse into the complex trade networks that connected the civilizations of the Eastern Mediterranean. Laden with a diverse cargo, the Uluburun shipwreck has reshaped scholarly understanding of economic, cultural, and technological exchanges in antiquity.

The Uluburun shipwreck was discovered in 1982 by a sponge diver near the southwestern coast of Turkey. Underwater archaeologists from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, led by George Bass and Cemal Pulak, conducted an extensive excavation from 1984 to 1994. The wreck, located at a depth of 44–61 meters, required over 22,000 dives to fully document and recover its cargo.

The ship’s cargo, composed of raw materials and finished goods from various regions, highlights the extensive trade networks of the Bronze Age. Key findings include:

Over 10 tons of copper ingots, sourced from Cyprus, indicating large-scale metal trade.

Approximately one ton of tin ingots, a crucial component for making bronze, likely originating from Central Asia or Anatolia.