A remarkable archaeological discovery has been made off the coast of Turkey, where a 3,600-year-old bronze dagger, linked to an advanced but extinct civilisation, was uncovered from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea.
The ancient dagger, adorned with silver rivets, was discovered during underwater excavations led by a team from Akdeniz University in Antalya Province.
These explorations took place near the Kumluca district, a coastal area in southern Turkey, according to an announcement by the country’s Culture and Tourism Minister, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
“A 3,600-year-old secret from the depths of the Mediterranean has come to light,” Ersoy revealed in a social media post, highlighting the significance of the find.
The dagger is believed to be associated with the Minoan civilization, a Bronze Age culture that thrived on the island of Crete, now part of Greece, from approximately 3000 B.C. to 1100 B.C.
The Minoans were renowned for their impressive cities, architectural achievements, intricate artwork, and extensive trade networks that spanned the Mediterranean.
The Minoan civilization, which peaked around 1600 B.C., greatly influenced the ancient Mycenaean culture of mainland Greece.
The Mycenaeans, known for being the first advanced civilization on the Greek mainland, eventually dominated Crete and absorbed many aspects of Minoan culture.
Minister Ersoy expressed his gratitude to the excavation team, stating: “I would like to thank the teams of Akdeniz University and the Department of Excavations and Research for their meticulous work in unearthing the traces of civilizations hidden in the depths of the Mediterranean.”
The discovery of the dagger adds to the growing list of significant underwater finds in the region.
Earlier this year, a Bronze Age axe was found off the coast of southern Norway, dating back to around 1300-1100 B.C., according to the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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