New research published in Nature Archaeology has identified a previously unknown maritime trade network, dubbed the 'Saffron-Silk Road'. By analyzing organic residues in ceramic vessels recovered from a Bronze Age shipwreck off the coast of Crete, scientists discovered traces of Crocus sativus (saffron) and wild silk fibers that originated in the Indus Valley civilization.
This discovery suggests that the Minoans were part of a vast, indirect trade network that reached much further east than previously understood. The find redefines our knowledge of Late Bronze Age globalization and the complexity of ancient maritime spice and textile trade.