17-century-old Roman ship fully recovered intact from Mediterranean

Spanish archaeologists have achieved a significant milestone in historical preservation by fully recovering a 17-century-old Roman merchant ship from the seabed of the Mediterranean Sea.

The operation, conducted off the coast of Palma de Mallorca, successfully retrieved the "Ses Fontanelles" shipwreck, which dates back to the 4th century AD. Previously, studying such ancient vessels required specialized diving equipment, but this recovery allows for in-depth analysis on land. The ship, measuring 12 meters long and 5 meters wide, sank approximately 1700 years ago during a storm while en route from Cartagena, likely carrying 300 amphorae filled with Roman-era oil, wine, and sauces destined for Rome or other western Mediterranean provinces.

This marks the first successful complete recovery of such a vessel, a feat that demanded four months of meticulous work. Researchers prepared fiberglass molds to lift and preserve the hull. In total, 600 pieces were recovered, including wooden fragments and cargo remnants, which will aid in reconstructing the vessel's history. The amphorae themselves are of particular interest, with some still sealed and containing organic material over a millennium old. Inscriptions on the amphorae, known as "tituli picti," provide valuable commercial details, identifying merchants, scribes, and fiscal references related to the transport.

A coin found at the base of the mast, likely part of a ritual during the ship's construction, helped date its origin to 320 AD. The National Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena will undertake the restoration and conservation of the ship. The discovery offers an unprecedented window into the shipbuilding techniques and trade practices of the Late Roman Empire.