Archaeologists uncover centuries-old shipwreck beneath historic city: 'Unique source of knowledge'

A centuries-old shipwreck was precocious recovered successful an improbable spot successful Spain: a erstwhile food market.

The Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) said the decayed vessel was recovered successful the erstwhile Mercat del Peix – which translates to "fish market" – successful the Catalan capital. Named Ciutadella I, the shipwreck was recovered betwixt April 10 and April 15.

Discovered during operation work, the vessel dates backmost betwixt the 15th and 16th centuries. The find reflects Barcelona's maritime history, said ICUB.

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"Starting successful 1439, with the operation of the archetypal artificial docks, the dynamics of the coastline were altered, and the sandbar known arsenic the Tasca, which had protected the metropolis for centuries, disappeared," said the organization's statement, which was translated from Catalan to English. 

"The operation of coastal drift, the rima of the Besòs River, and storms caused a accelerated beforehand of the beach, covering past marine spaces."

Archaeologists successful Spain precocious discovered the remnants of a shipwreck beneath a historical country of Barcelona. (Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB))

ICUB besides noted that ship's main operation – a "skeleton" measuring 32 feet successful magnitude and astir 10 feet successful width – besides consisted of 30 curved wooded frames. 

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"At slightest 7 stakes of the hull [were besides found]," said the statement.

"The planks are nailed to the frames with circular-section woody pegs, a benignant of woody nail utilized to articulation the pieces."

The shipwreck dates backmost to the 15th oregon 16th centuries, according to archaeologists. (Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB))

"Two longitudinal pieces – palmellars oregon saws – fixed with robust nails are besides preserved," ICUB noted. 

"This system, known arsenic skeleton construction, was communal successful the medieval Mediterranean and dispersed passim Europe from the mid-15th century."

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Researchers are presently studying integrated remains recovered adjacent the shipwreck, which see hazelnut seeds and full conifer cones, and "could person a chronology akin to that of the vessel."

Pine cones, suspected to day backmost hundreds of years, were besides recovered astatine the Barcelona excavation site. (Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB))

Yet ICUB besides cautioned that the ship's remains "are successful a precise fragile authorities of preservation" astatine the moment. 

The ship's endurance is considered a miracle, arsenic wood deteriorates easily.

The shipwreck volition beryllium transported to a installation wherever its wood volition beryllium desalinated, successful bid to sphere it.

"Although wood is simply a communal worldly successful humanities shipbuilding, it lone preserves successful precise circumstantial environments, specified arsenic aquatic ones, and deteriorates rapidly erstwhile exposed to air," the authorities bureau noted.

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"The waterlogged wood is highly sensitive, and to forestall it from drying retired and degrading, it has been partially covered with the archetypal soil that surrounded it," the connection added. 

"The Archaeology Service of Barcelona, with proposal from the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia – Centre for Underwater Archaeology of Catalonia (CASC) - is moving to guarantee the due documentation and preservation of the structure."

Archaeologists are successful the process of cautiously preserving the wood, which is highly delicate aft being unearthed. (Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB))

Archaeologists program to behaviour further enactment – including 3D documentation, marking, sampling, and preparing to determination the vessel successful water-filled containers. 

The shipwreck volition beryllium transported to a installation wherever its wood volition beryllium desalinated, successful bid to sphere it.

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"This attraction is indispensable to sphere some the carnal operation of the vessel and its archaeological value, arsenic it constitutes a unsocial root of cognition astir navigation and shipbuilding techniques utilized successful 15th and 16th period Barcelona," ICUB's property merchandise concluded.