In the Time of the Copper Kings

Archaeology Magazine ^ | January/February 2024 | Jason Urbanus, contributing editor

[SunkenCiv]

More than 40 years ago, a Turkish sponge diver named Mehmet Çakir caused a stir among Anatolian archaeologists when he showed them sketches of objects that he had seen lying 150 feet deep on the seafloor off the coast of Kas, in southwestern Turkey. He described them as "metal biscuits with ears," but experts immediately recognized them as a type of metal bar known as an oxhide ingot that was commonly traded during the Bronze Age, 3,500 years ago.

Authorities immediately began to search for the site, and soon came across the artifacts that Çakir had spotted not far offshore of Uluburun, or the Grand Cape. In addition to the ingots, there were so many other ancient objects scattered about that archaeologists and divers would spend a decade returning to the site. It would take them more than 22,000 separate dives to retrieve all the artifacts from what is one of the world's oldest and most spectacular shipwrecks.

In many ways, the Uluburun wreck represents a microcosm of the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1650–1150 B.C.) world from which it came. This was a time when mariners and merchants crisscrossed the sea on journeys spanning hundreds, even thousands, of miles. In all, about 18,000 objects have been found at the Uluburun wreck, and together they weigh more than 17 tons. Among them are elephant tusks, hippopotamus teeth, faience and glass beads, and gold and silver jewelry, as well as weapons and musical instruments. There are artifacts belonging to seven different cultures, including Egyptian, Nubian, Assyrian, and Mycenaean.

[SunkenCiv]

Ken Feisel

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of three related keywords, sorted, duplicates out:

• 3,300-year-old ship discovered off Israeli coast, the oldest ever found in deep waters [06/20/2024]
• The Ancient History of Cyprus [06/27/2023]
• New Study Of Uluburun Shipwreck Reveals Ancient Trade Network [12/02/2022]
• Ancient tombs point to rich families from wealthy Cypriot community [06/11/2022]
• Imported Lead Ingots Offer Evidence of Complex Bronze Age Trade Networks: A new analysis of shipwrecked metals inscribed with Cypro-Minoan markings suggests the objects originated in Sardinia, some 1,550 miles away from Cyprus [04/05/2022]
• Archaeology bombshell: Discovery of 145 human remains that 'solves biggest Bible mystery' [07/31/2020]
• Archaeology, genetics confirm Bible story of Philistines' origins [08/05/2019]
• Scholars say Philistine genes help solve biblical mystery [07/03/2019]
• 3,600-yr-old Shipwreck Uncovered Could be Oldest Ever Found in the Mediterranean [Antalya, Turkey] [05/17/2019]
• Searching for the Lost City of Copper [Enkomi, Cyprus] [10/31/2017]
• 3600-year-old Swedish Axes Were Made With Copper From Cyprus [05/12/2016]
• Excavations at Idalion, Cyprus: Crossing Cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean [April 6, 2016] [04/01/2016]
• Archaeologists discover secret room in ancient Sidon temple [Phoenicians] [02/28/2015]
• 3,000-year-old shipwreck shows European trade was thriving in Bronze Age [11/26/2013]
• The oldest farming village in the Mediterranean islands is discovered in Cyprus [05/15/2012]
• Important finds at Late Bronze Age site [08/07/2011]
• Archaeologists uncover early Neolithic activity on Cyprus [11/02/2010]
• Mystery skeleton found at ancient Cypriot site [10/08/2010]
• Greece. They found the palace belonging to one of the Heroes of the Iliad? [Egyptian artifact, 2006] [07/30/2010]
• Rich finds at Bronze Age settlement [ Dromolaxia Vizatzia, Cyprus ] [07/13/2010]
• Akrotiri Peninsula Excavations [01/18/2010]
• 2008 Excavation Results -- Pyrgos Mavroraki [Advanced Technology In Bronze Age Cyprus] [03/01/2009]
• Archaeology professor scrutinizes age-old mystery [ Uluburun wreck excavation] [11/24/2008]
• Bronze Age mouse offers clues to royal shipwreck [ Ulu Burun wreck ] [09/09/2008]
• Plateau could be ancient gateway to Pyla [09/05/2008]
• Exploring the blue depths of the Aegean and Mediterranean [08/04/2008]
• Sex curse found at ancient Cyprus site: report [07/16/2008]
• Brock University professor anxious to dive on Iron Age shipwreck [12/29/2007]
• Sailors may have cruised the Med 14,000 years ago [07/18/2007]
• An Ancient Voyage In Just Two Months (Foca People) [03/30/2007]
• Replica of 3,300-year-old shipwreck arrives in Bodrum [ Uluburun II ] [07/02/2006]
• Archaeologist Links Ancient Palace, Ajax [03/29/2006]
• Palace Of Homer's Hero Rises Out Of Myths [03/28/2006]
• Ancient Furnace Sparks Archaeological Interest [01/22/2006]
• Ancient Cypriot Copper Mine For Sale (Herod's Mine) [04/13/2005]
• Dig Unearths Mycenaean 'Homeric Capital' [04/17/2002]

[SunkenCiv]

One of *those* topics.

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• "The Scandal of Enkomi"
• Claude Schaeffer
• Ugarit
• Theses for the Reconstruction of Ancient History

  [snip] 105. The tombs of Enkomi on Cyprus, excavated by A. S. Murray in 1896, were correctly assigned by him to the eighth-seventh century. [/snip]

• The Grave Circles
• Ivory Carvings
• Later Use of the Grave Circles
• The Lion Gate of Mycenae
• Mycenae and Scythia
• The Religious Center of Mycenae
• A Terracotta Figurine and a Terracotta Head
• Tiryns

[SunkenCiv]

[coloradan]

I’m sure the first question on everyone’s mind: were those high-quality or low-quality copper ingots?

[DannyTN]

I’m hoarding sea shells for when civilization collapses.

[Rurudyne]

Leaves as money? Whet could go wrong?

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve got boxes of those, plus sealed grated cheese and dry milk.

[Red Badger]

Civilization is a lot older than we think.................

[exnavy]

I think my ship passed right over that.

[SunkenCiv]

*

[SunkenCiv]

Old Money: The Uluburun and Gelidonya Wrecks (podcast)
https://maritimehistorypodcast.com/ep-016-old-money-the-uluburun-and-gelidonya-wrecks/

[moovova]

Beautiful stuff in the article. What I’d give to have a couple of those sitting on the fireplace mantle.

[Mr. Lucky]

My sister deals in seashells for a living. She sells seashells down by the sea shore.

[BobL]

“In the Time of the Copper Kings”

Sounds like the bunch that keeps steal charging cords for EVs.

[SunkenCiv]

Or old British currency.