Ancient shipwreck packed with luxury tableware found untouched after 2,100 years beneath the Mediterranean Sea

Published: 05:43 EDT, 7 October 2026 | Updated: 05:44 EDT, 7 October 2026 A cargo of luxury crockery has resurfaced after spending 2,100 years at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.Archaeologists have uncovered a shipwreck packed with thousands of ceramic vessels off the coast of Turkey.The haul consists of soup bowls, fish plates and trays of various sizes that have remained in remarkably good condition.They provide a rare glimpse into how the wealthy dined in the Roman world, as the highly sought-after luxury goods were traded across the sea.In a statement, Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said: ‘We are bringing to light 2,100-year-old tableware sets from the depths of the Mediterranean.‘In the underwater excavations we launched in 2025, we have unearthed thousands of artefacts so far from a shipwreck loaded with ceramics.’ The wreck, discovered 180 feet deep off the coast of Antalya, contains a treasure trove of luxury tableware The haul consists of soup bowls, fish plates and trays of various sizes that have remained in remarkably good conditionThe wreck lies 180ft (55m) deep off the coast of Adrasan in Antalya but is believed to have originated from Rhosus, an ancient settlement in what is now Hatay.These two areas are around 300 nautical miles apart, and it is thought the vessel was likely travelling towards Rome when it was caught in a storm and sank after striking a shallow area.So far researchers have recovered thousands of artefacts, including plates, bowls and trays in 122 different shapes and sizes, laying bare the ‘luxurious’ dining culture of the era.Archaeologists also discovered ceramic jars from several Aegean islands, suggesting the vessel was carrying goods from multiple production centres.Evidence from Roman writings indicates pottery from Rhosus enjoyed a strong reputation among affluent consumers.The importance of the discovery is underscored by an intriguing link to one of ancient Rome's most famous figures, the statesman and orator Cicero.In a letter to his friend Atticus in 50 BC, Cicero wrote about ordering ceramic vessels from Rhosus, suggesting the region's tableware was highly prized among wealthy Romans. Researchers have recovered thousands of artefacts, including plates, bowls and trays in 122 different shapes and sizes Archaeologists found the ship’s cargo in an unusually good state of preservation thanks to the way the tableware had been meticulously packedArchaeologists found the ship’s cargo in an unusually good state of preservation.That is because the tableware had been carefully packed inside wooden crates with clay placed between individual pieces to prevent breakages during transport.When the vessel sank, this protective packing appears to have shielded much of the cargo from serious damage.Coins also recovered from the wreck date to the 1st century BC and helped researchers determine when the ship made its final voyage.‘Thanks to the clay placed between them as they were packed into crates, these artefacts have reached us intact, carrying forward Anatolia’s mastery of production and the Mediterranean’s trading past to the present day,’ Mr Ersoy said.