Spanish archaeologists discover trove of ancient shipwrecks in Bay of Gibraltar
8 hours ago
- #Maritime History
- #Cultural Heritage
- #Archaeology
- Spanish archaeologists documented over 30 shipwrecks in the Bay of Algeciras/Gibraltar, dating from the 5th century BC to WWII.
- A three-year project identified 151 archaeological sites, including 134 shipwrecks, with 34 documented so far, featuring vessels from Punic, Roman, medieval, and early modern periods.
- Notable finds include a small 18th-century Spanish gunboat used for stealth attacks and a wooden box shaped like a book containing combs, hinting at personal grooming over espionage.
- The bay serves as a strategic crossroads for trade, exploration, and conflict, with ships from various cultures like Dutch, Venetian, Spanish, and English passing through.
- Researchers advocate for preservation due to threats from port development, dredging, climate change, and invasive algae, using virtual models and 360-degree videos for public awareness.
- The sites offer a microcosm of maritime history, highlighting the intense relationship coastal societies had with the sea, emphasizing in-situ study for contextual understanding.