The oldest wooden anchor in the world was found during an excavation in the Turkish port city of Orla by the researchers of the Leon Recanti Institute of Maritime Studies at the University of Haifa
The oldest wooden anchor in the world was found during an excavation in the Turkish port city of Orla by the researchers of the Leon Recanti Institute of Maritime Studies at the University of Haifa. It is a wooden anchor from the end of the XNUMXth century BC that is embedded in the ground about one and a half meters deep. Besides the archaeological findings, the collaboration between the researchers of the University of Haifa and the University of Ankara resulted in great interest among the locals in the Israeli delegation to the point that the host city began to search for its Jewish roots.
Israel-Turkey relations have seen quite a few ups and downs in recent years, but the cooperation between the Institute for Maritime Studies at Haifa University and Ankara University is only getting tighter. In 2000, Ankara University invited the researchers of the Institute of Maritime Studies to cooperate with them in the archaeological excavations in the port of Orla, a city located near Izmir with a maritime history of over 5000 years. During the excavations, the maritime archaeologists of the University of Haifa discovered remains of a built port.
From the remains it appears that the port, which was used by the Greek colony of Kalzomeni, sank following some disaster, most likely an earthquake. The sinking of the port has been dated to the sixth century BCE, but researchers do not know of any natural disaster from that period, which leaves the mystery surrounding the site.
During the last excavation, it became clear that a wooden beam found embedded in the ground back in 2003 is actually a wooden anchor with a metal-wrapped end. The anchor was driven into the bottom of the ancient port, which is two meters below the surface of today's bottom. The wooden anchor dates back to around 600 BC, making it the oldest wooden anchor found.
"In addition to the sunken port, part of a settlement that was adjacent to the port also drowned in the same disaster. As soon as we finish uncovering the findings of the port and the settlement, we will know better about that period and maybe we will also know what caused that disaster," said Prof. Michal Artzi, who heads the excavation team on behalf of the University of Haifa.
However, beyond the research findings, the collaboration between the Israeli and Turkish universities has additional benefits. Following the training of the researchers from the University of Haifa for the past six years, Ankara University is now establishing their own maritime institute according to the guidelines of the maritime workshop team of the Institute of Maritime Studies. During these years quite a few Turkish divers were trained by the experts from the Institute of Maritime Studies. The Turkish side did not remain liable either. Beyond the welcoming hospitality of the guests and the incessant interest of the local media in the Israeli team, the municipality of Orla decided to look for the Jewish roots of their city. During the searches, two Jewish cemeteries were uncovered where the city's Jews were buried in the past and were forgotten over the years until they disappeared.
During the coming year, the staff of the Institute of Maritime Studies at the University of Haifa will return for the seventh year of cooperation. The "Haifa Pavilion" in the diggers' camp, which was built especially for them with the help of the municipality of Orla and the contribution of the Turkish Minister of Culture, is already waiting for them.
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