Marine archaeologists have identified a submerged trade hub off the coast of modern-day Eritrea, confirming a sophisticated maritime link between the Kingdom of Axum and the South Arabian Peninsula. Using high-resolution sonar, the team located several 4th-century merchant vessels carrying intact ceramic jars containing traces of processed frankincense and myrrh. This discovery suggests that the Aksumite Empire played a far more central role in the luxury resin trade than previously understood.
Isotopic analysis of the resins indicates they were destined for the markets of the Roman Empire and the Sasanian Persian Empire. The researchers also found evidence of ancient harbor infrastructure, including basalt quay stones and wooden pilings, which survived the rising sea levels of the late antiquity period. This find redraws the map of the ancient Indian Ocean spice and incense routes.