The operation to extract the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck begins

This project, which will last approximately four months, will place Mallorca at the global epicenter of scientific research on underwater heritage.

The Consell de Mallorca began the operation this Tuesday, March 10th, to extract the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck, a key archaeological intervention aimed at ensuring the preservation and study of the site, considered one of the most important underwater discoveries in the western Mediterranean.

The president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, and the vice president of the island institution and councillor for Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, explained the start of the extraction works, an intervention that represents a decisive step in preserving this important archaeological site.

The president highlighted the importance of this action for the island’s historical heritage and stressed that the project is the result of many years of work and research. “Today we are launching a very important initiative to protect and promote our heritage. The Ses Fontanelles shipwreck is an exceptional testimony to our maritime history, and with this extraction we are taking a decisive step to ensure its conservation and study,” he explained.

Galmés also emphasized that the intervention is the result of a long trajectory of scientific research: “It represents many years of work and investigation. For that very reason, it is essential to approach this project with the highest scientific rigor.”

For her part, Vice President and Councillor for Culture and Heritage Antònia Roca highlighted the scientific and heritage significance of the project.
“We are facing one of the most important underwater archaeological sites in the western Mediterranean. This operation will allow us to study the shipwreck in depth and continue expanding knowledge about navigation and maritime trade in the Mediterranean during the Roman period,” she said.

Roca also stressed the institution’s intention to bring the project closer to the public. In this regard, the Consell de Mallorca is already preparing an exhibition to be held in the coming months at La Misericòrdia Cultural Centre, which will present the results of the research and the historical value of this Roman ship.
“We want to make this project accessible to the public and share the knowledge generated through this research,” she added.

The Ses Fontanelles shipwreck is a Late Roman vessel dated to the 4th century AD. It was discovered in 2019 by a citizen diving in the area who alerted the Consell de Mallorca about the find. The ship lies just 65 meters from the coast at a depth of approximately 2.5 meters. Researchers have determined that the vessel measured roughly 12 meters in length and 5 meters in width.

After several years of research, experts have concluded that the ship originated from Cartagena and sank in Mallorca during the 4th century AD. In 2022, some materials found inside the vessel were already recovered, mainly amphorae containing oil, wine, and fish sauces. Some of them even preserved organic remains inside, an extraordinary circumstance that provides direct information about trade and diet during the Roman period.

According to specialists, the state of preservation of the ship’s wood is exceptional. The 300 recovered amphorae, of various types, bear painted inscriptions that have already been catalogued as the most significant documented in the Mediterranean, as they provide direct information about the contents of the containers. For all these reasons, the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck is considered a discovery of great scientific importance, placing Mallorca as an archaeological reference on an international scale.

The work is being carried out by a technical and scientific team specialized in underwater archaeology and heritage conservation created by the Consell de Mallorca. The team is coordinated by Miquel Àngel Cau-Ontiveros from the University of Barcelona; Darío Bernal-Cassola from the University of Cádiz; Enrique García from the University of the Balearic Islands; and Carlos de Juan from the University of Valencia.

The extraction operation will be a complex process expected to take around four months, although the exact duration will depend on weather and sea conditions, which may affect the pace of the work. In this first phase, the efforts of the technical team are mainly focused on removing the sand covering the wreck, an essential task in order to prepare the vessel for the following stages of extraction.

In recent weeks, preparatory work has also been completed at Castell de Sant Carles, where a laboratory has been set up to receive and treat the archaeological material once the extraction of the wreck has been completed.

The operation has also been planned with consideration for its potential impact on the surrounding area. For this reason, all stakeholders, including neighborhood associations, hotels, and restaurants in the area, as well as members of the security forces and various institutions, have been kept informed, with the aim of communicating the work schedule and ensuring maximum coordination during the project.