MAZARRÓN – In the depths of the sea near the Murcia region of Spain, researchers are frantically trying to save an incredible archaeological discovery. The find was already made in 1995 but now has to go to the surface.
It is a 2,500-year-old Phoenician shipwreck, called Mazarrón II. Moreover, it is imperative to save this ancient relic before storms or sea currents destroy it beyond repair. Mazarrón II, named after the region where it was discovered, is considered a unique display of ancient maritime engineering.
The experts are therefore drawing up a comprehensive plan to set up the rescue of the wreck. The team members from Valencian University have already spent more than 560 hours underwater documenting every crack and crevice of this eight-metre ship. With this crucial information about the condition of the wreck, their goal is to complete the expedition before next summer. This is to prevent further damage to the structure of the wreck.
Wreck in excellent condition
“The wreck is nothing short of exquisite,” Deborah Carlson, a professor of marine archaeology at the University of Texas A&M, told McClatchy News. “It holds a very important place in history, both chronologically and geographically, as it exhibits building techniques associated with the Levant, where the Phoenicians originally came from.”
In addition to its historical significance, Mazarrón II is also “in excellent condition,” according to Carlson, who explained that the ship could be destroyed if exposed to the ocean currents. “It’s in a tricky area where the currents affect the sea floor, carrying sand away, so we had to make a decision,” she noted.
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