The 26 Roman amphorae found by the 'Miguel Oliver' begin their conservation process

The visit served to observe the desalination and preventive conservation work on the 26 pieces found at a depth of 1,400 meters.

The Regional Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, Jaume Bauzà, accompanied by the Director General of Culture, Llorenç Perelló, visited the storage facility of the Archaeological Museum of Eivissa and Formentera (MAEF) today, Wednesday, September 23rd, to closely examine the collection of Roman amphorae recently recovered in waters south of Formentera and monitor the conservation work underway.

During the visit, the museum's management and technical team showed authorities the necessary preliminary desalination process required to stabilize the pieces. This process is being carried out in dedicated water tanks and is an essential step toward their definitive restoration and subsequent scientific study.

Minister Jaume Bauzà emphasized “the speed and exemplary manner with which the Directorate General of Culture and the MAEF acted, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (under the General Secretariat of Fisheries), and the Island Council of Formentera, ensuring at all times the logistical safety and preservation of these extremely fragile pieces.”

Furthermore, Bauzà highlighted that “this discovery, due to its quantity, good state of preservation, and the exceptional depth from which it originates, reinforces the incalculable richness of the underwater heritage of the Pityusic Islands and demonstrates the importance of having public teams prepared to act immediately in the face of accidental finds of this importance.”

For his part, the Director General of Culture, Llorenç Perelló, highlighted the historical value of the collection: “We are facing material of extraordinary scientific value. The markings and stamps on these Roman amphorae will provide us with a wealth of information about trade routes, pairings, and the transport of oil in the western Mediterranean.”

The collection consists of approximately 26 Roman amphorae, of the Dressel 20 type, intended for transporting oil, some nearly intact and others fragmented, preserved across a total of 17 boxes. The discovery was made accidentally by the oceanographic research vessel Miguel Oliver while conducting the MEDITS fisheries research campaign, coordinated by the IEO-CSIC and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.

Upon learning of the discovery at a depth of 1,400 meters in state-owned waters, the Regional Ministry's Directorate General of Culture immediately activated collaboration protocols with the Ministry of Culture's Underwater Heritage Service to authorize its emergency transfer. Additionally, the care provided by the vessel's crew, who kept the cargo continuously hydrated using hoses, was key to stabilizing the material until its arrival at the museum warehouse.

Once the treatment and restoration process is complete, the pieces will be formally deposited at the MAEF for research and subsequent public display.