Spanish archaeologists plan rescue of ancient Phoenician shipwreck

Spanish archaeologists are working diligently to rescue a 2,500-year-old Phoenician shipwreck, known as Mazarron II, off the coast of Mazarron in the southeastern Spanish region of Murcia.

Spanish archaeologists plan rescue of ancient Phoenician shipwreck Credit: Jose A Moya/Regional Government of Murcia

The shipwreck is considered a remarkable archaeological discovery and a unique piece of ancient maritime engineering. With an approaching storm that could destroy the wreck, the team is racing against time to save it.

A team of nine technicians from the University of Valencia spent over 560 hours diving to meticulously document every crack and fissure in the eight-meter-long Mazarron II.

Their extensive underwater surveys, conducted over two weeks in June, provided critical information about the condition of the shipwreck. This detailed documentation will play a pivotal role in formulating a strategy for its retrieval and preservation.

Later this year, experts will recommend the best approach to protect and retrieve the shipwreck. One proposed method involves extracting the ship piece by piece through existing cracks and reᴀssembling it outside of the water.

The Mazarron II, estimated to have been constructed around 580 BCE, remained buried in sediment for over two millennia until changes in sea currents caused it to resurface almost 30 years ago.

Currently lying approximately 1.7 meters beneath the Mediterranean waters, the shipwreck faces threats to its preservation. A sinking metal structure, initially built for protection, has had to be partially removed to prevent it from crushing the fragile remains.

The shipwreck offers a unique opportunity to gain further insights into Phoenician trading practices. It provides valuable evidence of how the Phoenicians transported metals, including lead, from the Iberian Peninsula. It offers a glimpse into their maritime activities and economic ties with other civilizations of the time.

The Phoenicians, originating from present-day Lebanon and Syria, established colonies and trading posts throughout the Mediterranean from 1,500 BCE to 300 BCE.

The recovery of the Mazarron II is both a scientific endeavor and a race against time. The meticulous documentation and innovative retrieval strategies employed by the team exemplify their determination to safeguard this unique piece of maritime history.

As the Spanish archaeologists intensify their efforts, the world eagerly awaits the outcome of their work. The goal is to rescue and treat the shipwreck so that it can be exhibited in a museum, allowing people to appreciate it without the constant threat of destruction from storms.

Related Posts

Lavish Roman villa with rare fish pond and frescoes unearthed in ancient Tripolis, Turkey

Lavish Roman villa with rare fish pond and frescoes unearthed in ancient Tripolis, Turkey

Archaeologists have unearthed a stunningly well-preserved Roman villa in the city of Tripolis near Denizli in western Turkey. The discovery includes rich frescoes and a rare decorative…

Rare trilobite fossil amulet unearthed at Roman site in Spain reveals unique ancient beliefs

Rare trilobite fossil amulet unearthed at Roman site in Spain reveals unique ancient beliefs

Archaeologists working at the Roman site of A Cibdá de Armea in northwestern Spain, Galicia, have uncovered an unexpected discovery: a 450-million-year-old fossilized trilobite that was intentionally…

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs reemerge on Oahu’s shores after years of being hidden

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs reemerge on Oahu’s shores after years of being hidden

An amazing panel of ancient petroglyphs along the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, has again been revealed by the seasonal receding of ocean sands. Etched into sandstone on…

Mongolian Buddhist shrine scrolls virtually unrolled in Berlin reveal hidden Sanskrit mantra

Mongolian Buddhist shrine scrolls virtually unrolled in Berlin reveal hidden Sanskrit mantra

A Buddhist scroll hidden for decades within a Mongolian Gungervaa shrine has been virtually unrolled by researchers in Berlin through the use of advanced X-ray tomography, revealing…

Decapitation of a child 850,000 years ago reveals new evidence of cannibalism at Atapuerca

Decapitation of a child 850,000 years ago reveals new evidence of cannibalism at Atapuerca

A newly discovered human cervical vertebra from the Gran Dolina site in the Sierra de Atapuerca in Spain, which dates to 850,000 years ago, has provided new…

Lost tomb of Prussian countess Julie von Voß, wife of King Frederick William II, rediscovered in Berlin

Lost tomb of Prussian countess Julie von Voß, wife of King Frederick William II, rediscovered in Berlin

Archaeologists in Berlin uncovered what they believe to be Julie von Voß’s long-lost resting place, the second wife of Prussian King Frederick William II. The discovery was…