U.S.WEIRD NEWS

Archaeologists find jars from possible oldest shipwreck, up to 4,700…

Archaeologists found jars from a wreck possibly 4,700 years old, and outside experts are most intrigued by the black residue inside; certainty is still missing.

On air: Hank Ledger on The Five O'Clock
Published 5:13 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:13 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “The World’s Oldest Shipwreck? Maybe, but ‘We’re All Excited by Maybe.’”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:13 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Hank Ledger.

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The New York TimesThe World’s Oldest Shipwreck? Maybe, but ‘We’re All Excited by Maybe.’

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOur guest is Prosper Valdivieso, professor of Maybe Studies, who says he predicted this shipwreck and also that it wouldn't exist.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorProfessor, is it the oldest in the world?
Prosper ValdiviesoHank, it is maybe the oldest, and I said so in footnote nine.
Prosper ValdiviesoThe jars are up to forty-seven hundred years old, and I hold one right here.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat jar has a sticky note that says maybe.
Prosper ValdiviesoIt's a working label.
Prosper ValdiviesoOutside experts are skeptical but intrigued, which is exactly what I forecast in footnote forty, and also the opposite, in footnote forty-one.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo you were right both ways.
Prosper ValdiviesoBoth ways, yes.
Prosper ValdiviesoNow the black residue in the jars is either an ancient meal or an ancient receipt, and as I wrote in footnote three hundred and twelve, I'm covered on both.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA receipt. For a boat that sank.
Prosper ValdiviesoRefunds were harder then. My book, It Was Probably There, is mostly footnotes, and the main text is one jar.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOne yes or no, Professor. Is it the oldest?
Prosper ValdiviesoMaybe.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBrock, give me anything with a straight answer, even if it's rain.

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