Countdown to the extraction of the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck

The meeting served to explain the progress of the work and the project’s heritage significance for Mallorca to the 25 attending entities and institutions.

The Consell de Mallorca held an information session for local residents, representatives of the hotel sector and other social and economic stakeholders in the Ses Fontanelles area to explain how the extraction of the Roman shipwreck will be carried out. The operation is scheduled to begin on March 9th, 2026, weather permitting.

The meeting was conceived as an informational session following the completion of all technical and scientific aspects of the project, aiming to clearly and transparently explain to the more than 25 participating entities and institutions how the operation will unfold and its execution timeline.

During the meeting, the Vice President of the Consell de Mallorca and Councillor for Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, emphasized the importance of maintaining direct communication with the area surrounding the site. “We want all stakeholders, residents, yacht clubs, hoteliers, restaurateurs, security forces, etc., to know first-hand how the process will unfold, what implications it will have, and the historical and cultural significance of this project for Mallorca,” she said. Roca added that “the extraction of the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck represents a heritage milestone that places the island on the international map of underwater archaeology, and we are managing it with the utmost rigor and responsibility.”

The session outlined how the operation will be organized from March 9th onward, the estimated duration of the different phases, and the measures planned to ensure safety, minimize disruption to the surrounding area and guarantee the proper execution of the work. The subsequent process of conserving and studying the recovered materials was also explained.

The Ses Fontanelles shipwreck, dated to the 4th century AD and located just a few meters from the coast, is considered one of the most significant finds in the western Mediterranean due to the exceptional state of preservation of both the vessel and its cargo, which includes hundreds of Roman-era amphorae. The international scientific community supports the intervention, whose technical planning has already been defined in line with the highest standards in underwater archaeology.

Attendees welcomed the initiative and the Consell de Mallorca’s commitment to maintaining direct and ongoing communication with the local community as this project begins, one that, beyond its scientific dimension, represents a cultural opportunity and a source of international visibility for the island.