The technical committee defines the roadmap for recovering the shipwreck of Ses Fontanelles

The technical committee outlined on Thursday to the members of the Commission the scientific roadmap, endorsed by the international community, that foresees the extraction of the vessel in the coming months.

The scientific directors of Ses Fontanelles explained on Thursday, November 20th, to the members of the Heritage Commission of the Consell de Mallorca the planned extraction project for the shipwreck scheduled for 2026. The technical committee, made up of Dr. Miguel Ángel Cau Ontiveros (ICREA–University of Barcelona), Dr. Darío Bernal Casasola (University of Cádiz), and Dr. Carlos de Juan Fuertes (University of Valencia), detailed all the technical and scientific aspects of the action plan, which is expected to be carried out over the coming months.

The vice-president of the Consell de Mallorca and councillor for Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, chaired the Heritage Commission meeting in which the technical project for the extraction and conservation of the Ses Fontanelles shipwreck was presented. This late Roman vessel from the 4th century AD was discovered six years ago and is considered one of the most significant underwater finds in the Mediterranean.

The purpose of the session was to inform the members of the Commission about the current state of the work and about the roadmap that will guide the intervention planned for 2026.

The researchers explained that recent study campaigns have confirmed that the ship no longer preserves its keel, a decisive factor that requires planning an extraction in fragments, following a highly specialised protocol endorsed by the international scientific community. This procedure ensures maximum safety for the shipwreck and guarantees its proper subsequent conservation, the project directors explained.

The scientific directors also highlighted the excellent state of preservation of much of the ship’s structure and cargo, a factor that makes this find an exceptional case in the Mediterranean and has sparked great interest among maritime archaeology specialists from various countries.

During the meeting, it was also announced that the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQUA) has joined the project, providing top-tier scientific and institutional support that strengthens the quality and credibility of the entire extraction and conservation process.

Vice-president and councillor Roca informed the Commission members that the project has been designed based on principles of rigour, transparency, and maximum scientific collaboration, and that the Consell de Mallorca remains firmly committed to providing all necessary resources. The presentation allowed members to learn first-hand about the details of the work and the steps that will be taken in the coming months leading up to the planned extraction in 2026.