500-year-old ship uncovered beneath parking lot development in Barcelona
Archaeologists meticulously excavate the remains of a 15th-century vessel, uncovered during construction in Barcelona. (AA Photo)
On Thursday, archaeologists in Barcelona revealed the discovery of a well-preserved medieval shipwreck at a construction site, providing a unique insight into the city’s maritime past.
According to the local newspaper El Periodico, the ship was found earlier this month while a parking lot was being built at the site of the old fish market, which is now being redeveloped into a center for scientific innovation.
Archaeologists stated that the remains, measuring about 10 meters (32 feet) in length and more than 3 meters in width, consist of a network of curved wooden ribs and hull planks, preserved in sediment that shielded the wood from deterioration.
The ship’s design reflects Mediterranean shipbuilding methods that spread throughout Europe in the late Middle Ages with estimates suggesting it dates to the 15th or early 16th century. Archaeologists have called the find extraordinary, not only due to its size but also for the valuable historical context it offers.
“The find reflects Barcelona’s historical maritime transformation,” the statement said, noting how the construction of the city’s first artificial docks in 1439 altered coastal dynamics that continued shifting for centuries. Initial conservation efforts of the “extremely fragile” remains include 3D modeling, sampling and stabilization in water tanks.
Shipwreck to undergo wax preservation
Eventually, the remains will undergo a specialized treatment process that replaces the wood’s moisture with wax, allowing long-term preservation.
The development at the old fish market also uncovered an air raid shelter used by workers in the 20th century, as well as structures from the 18th-century Ciutadella, the 19th-century fish market and the 1888 Universal Exposition.
In 2008, a similar 15th-century ship was found near the city’s old harbor. That vessel, believed to have Basque origins, was fully restored and now features in a digital exhibit at the city’s history museum.
