The discovery of the oldest shipwreck ever found in deep water, off the coast of northern Israel, has been announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The vessel, estimated to have sunk between 1400 B.C. and 1300 B.C., is believed to be a merchant ship approximately 39 to 46 feet long. The preliminary examination of two clay jars known as Canaanite amphorae indicated that the ship may have been carrying goods like honey, olive oil, and resin. The find, located about a mile deep in the Mediterranean Sea, is a significant discovery as shipwrecks from the Bronze Age are extremely rare. The vessel was discovered during a survey conducted by Energean, and despite the depth, the ship and its contents have remained remarkably preserved. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the navigational abilities of ancient mariners, suggesting they may have traveled much farther from ports than previously believed. The wreck offers the potential to advance scientific knowledge of late Bronze Age trade patterns and the civilizations involved. The Israeli authorities plan to preserve the deep-sea site for future generations, opting not to bring up more of the wreck at this time. This decision aims to safeguard the shipwreck until better technology and methodology can be employed for excavation at such depths.