Discovering a 2,400-Year-Old Port Buried Under the Black Sea

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The Black Sea has recently revealed an astonishing archaeological find – the ancient port of Kerpe. Through extensive excavation efforts that started in 2020, archaeologists have unearthed a rich collection of artifacts, providing a glimpse into the vibrant life of one of the most important ancient ports.

Phát hiện bến cảng 2.400 tuổi chôn vùi dưới biển Đen- Ảnh 1.
A bustling port that existed throughout several empires in the Black Sea region, Turkey – Graphic Image.

Kerpe, spanning the Roman, Byzantine, and Genoese periods, served as a familiar stopover for ancient vessels navigating the Black Sea. According to the journal Anatolian Archaeology, Kerpe also played a crucial role as a trading port, supplying wood and fuel to the city of Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire.

Unfortunately, after 1,500 years of prosperity, this port was submerged beneath the sea. Now, a team of excavators has dived down to a location approximately 80 km off the Turkish coast, at a depth of 4 meters, where artifacts are scattered across an area of around 2,000 square meters. These include two sections of the ancient dock.

“We believe that the port holds tremendous value in highlighting the trade relations between the East and the West, from ancient times to the Ottoman period in the Black Sea,” archaeologists stated in a press release.

Phát hiện bến cảng 2.400 tuổi chôn vùi dưới biển Đen- Ảnh 2.
Some artifacts from ancient Kerpe on display at the Kocaeli Museum. Image: Kocaeli Museum.

The ancient artifacts from Kerpe will be exhibited in a display titled “The Silent Port of the Black Sea: Kerpe,” where the Gulf of Kerpe was referred to as the Black Sea by the ancient inhabitants. The exhibition will showcase a range of objects representing the lives of the people and the commercial activities in the region, including valuable items such as amphorae dating back to the 4th century BC, red glazed pottery, and the remains of sunken ships.

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This remarkable discovery not only sheds light on the ancient maritime trade but also emphasizes the historical significance of the Black Sea as a cultural crossroad between the East and the West. With the exhibition “The Silent Port of the Black Sea: Kerpe,” visitors will have the opportunity to delve into the captivating world of the ancient port and witness the enduring legacy of this hidden gem.

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