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Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón

Reconstruction of the Phoenician shipwreck Mazarron II in the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of Cartagena (ARQUA).
Shown within Spain
Location	Playa de la Isla , off the coast of Mazarron, Sapin
Coordinates	37°33′36″N 1°16′03″W / 37.55986117792037°N 1.267502869855769°W / 37.55986117792037; -1.267502869855769
Type	Site of a sunken ship
History
Founded	7th century BC
Abandoned	7th century BC
Periods	Iron Age
Cultures	Phoenician, Iberian
Site notes
Discovered	1988 (Mazarrón I) 1994 (Mazarrón II)
Condition	Conserved at the Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena
Ownership	Spain

The Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón are two wrecks dated to the 7th century BC, found off the coast of Mazarrón, in the Region of Murcia, Spain. The Mazarrón I was discovered in 1988 and has undergone excavation, extraction, and restoration since 1993. It is currently on display at the Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena. The second shipwreck, dubbed Mazarrón II, was discovered in 1994. Mazarrón II was better preserved, protected by a metal sarcophagus; after years of study, its was extracted in September 2024.

Additionally, there is an research center for the Phoenician ships located in Mazarrón, which was inaugurated in June 2009.

37°33′36″N 1°16′03″W / 37.55986117792037°N 1.267502869855769°W / 37.55986117792037; -1.267502869855769

Mazarrón I

The Mazarrón I ship was discovered on the beach of Isla del Puerto in Mazarrón during to the construction of a marina, which altered the currents and exposed the ship's wooden structures. The discovery was made by archaeologists from the Spanish National Museum of Maritime Archaeology and the National Center for Underwater Archaeological Research. Between 1993 and 1995, the Phoenician Ship Project was carried out, which allowed for the documentation and extraction of the wreck.

The wreck, found about 50 meters (160 ft) from the shore and at a depth of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft), was covered by a layer of dead Posidonia oceanica, which had sealed the ship and allowed for its preservation. Its remains are incomplete; only the 3.98 meters (13.1 ft) keel and remnants of four frames connected to nine fragments of planking and part of one of the bars were found. Over 8,000 Phoenician ceramic fragments were documented, comprising more than 70% of the finds. These included parts of amphorae, cooking pots, bowls, plates, and cups. Additionally, stone and metal artifacts were recovered, including a silver scarab and a spearhead, one of the few examples of Atlantic Bronze Age metallurgy found in the Mediterranean.

Mazarrón I is possibly the first Phoenician vessel from the 7th century BCE discovered in the Mediterranean. This wreck contributes to archaeological knowledge of Phoenician colonization patterns in inland territories and serves as an intermediate point between the two traditionally documented Phoenician-Punic coastal settlements of Ibiza and Villaricos, which are historically considered distant from each other.

Mazarrón II

The Mazarrón II shipwreck was discovered in 1994 by divers and is the most complete ancient shipwreck found to date, with nearly the entire vessel preserved from bow to stern. It measures 8.1 meters (27 ft) in length, 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) in beam, and an approximate depth of 11 meters (36 ft). This wreck is of significant archaeological importance, providing a detailed insight into Phoenician shipbuilding techniques and maritime practices. It is located in the Mediterranean off the coast of Mazarrón, Spain. The Mazarrón II shipwreck retains nearly all of its frames made from fig tree wood, except for one, which are sewn together with plant fibers. The pine planking that forms the hull is fastened using a system of dowels, and plant fibers were employed to caulk the seams. Its state of preservation is excellent, and the wreck remains almost intact under a protective metal cover that was installed in 2000 at the discovery site.

The Mazarrón II shipwreck preserves all of its elements in their original position and curvature, in contrast to the Mazarrón I, whose material was found scattered. The cargo of both ships was primarily composed of litharge blocks for silver separation, and nearly the entire cargo has been preserved in Mazarrón II, with 2,820 kilograms recovered​. The remains of the Mazarrón II shipwreck, which were extracted between October 1999 and January 2001, also included a ceramic amphora, a plant fiber basket with a wooden handle, a hand mill, and several animal bone fragments. Additionally, the ship contained a wooden and lead anchor, which was preserved in excellent condition and is the first of its kind to be found. The cargoes of both ships are currently on display at the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena.

After two years of thorough studies, in March 2021, the Ministry of Culture and Sports approved the extraction of the Mazarrón II shipwreck for its exhibition at the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology.The extraction project involved the UNESCO, and culminated with the successful recovery of the ship in September 2024.

Gallery

• Reconstruction of the Phoenician Ship Mazarrón II
• Original remains of the Mazarrón I wreck.
• Phoenician ring from the Mazarrón II wreck.
• Part of the cargo of the Phoenician ship.

References

Citations

1. Cabrera Tejedor 2018, p. 301.
2. Ayuntamiento de Mazarrón 2004.
3. Región de Murcia Digital 2015.
4. ^ Vadillo 2024.
5. La Razon editorial 2009.
6. Cabrera Tejedor 2018.
7. Ministerio de Cultura - Gobierno de España 2021a.
8. ^ Carvajal 2017.
9. Ministerio de Cultura - Gobierno de España 2021b.
10. Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática 2018.
11. Ayuntamiento de Mazarrón. Concejalía de Turismo. 2015.
12. Ministerio de Cultura - Gobierno de España 2021c.
13. M.A. 2021.
14. McGeer 2024.

Sources

• Ayuntamiento de Mazarrón (2004). "Barcos Fenicios" [Phoenician ships]. Ayutamiento de Mazarron (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 December 2009.
• Ayuntamiento de Mazarrón. Concejalía de Turismo. (2015). "Barco Fenicio de Mazarrón". Visit Mazarrón. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021.
• Carvajal, Guillermo (2017-06-13). "El barco fenicio de Mazarrón, la nave antigua más completa encontrada en el Mediterráneo". La Brújula Verde (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-30.
• M.A. (2021-03-11). "El barco fenicio de Mazarrón será extraído y expuesto en Cartagena". Diario ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-30. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
• McGeer, Catherine (2024-09-19). "Historic day for Murcia: Mazarrón shipwreck recovered: Mazarrón Phoenician shipwreck recovered". Euro Weekly News. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
• Ministerio de Cultura - Gobierno de España (2021a). "Barco Mazarrón 1" [Mazarrón 1 Ship]. cultura.gob.es. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
• Ministerio de Cultura - Gobierno de España (2021b). "Escarabeo" [The Scarab]. cultura.gob.es. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
• Ministerio de Cultura - Gobierno de España (2021c). "Barco Mazarrón 2" [Mazarrón 2 ship]. cultura.gob.es. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
• Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática (2018). "7 - Hallazgos curiosos" [Curious findings]. Conservación y Restauración del Patrimonio Subacuático [Conservation and Restoration of Underwater Heritage] (in Spanish). Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática.
• La Razon editorial (2009-06-22). "Cruz alaba el Centro de Interpretación del Barco Fenicio del Puerto de Mazarrón" [Cruz praises the Phoenician Ship of Puerto de Mazarrón Research Center]. www.larazon.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
• Región de Murcia Digital (2015). "Playa de la Isla". www.regmurcia.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
• Cabrera Tejedor, Carlos (2018). "The Mazarrón 1 Shipwreck: an iron-age boat with unique features from the Iberian Peninsula". International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 47 (2): 300–324. doi:10.1111/1095-9270.12318. ISSN 1095-9270.
• Vadillo, Virginia (2024-07-02). "Una embarcación fenicia de 2.600 años de antigüedad hallada en Mazarrón saldrá del mar en septiembre". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-02.

• Archaeological sites in the Region of Murcia
• Shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea
• Phoenician shipwrecks