Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón
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Marker: recorded wreck position (Date not recorded).
Key facts
| Name | Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón | Wikidata label |
|---|---|---|
| Ship type | group | Wikidata P31 instance of |
| Sea / ocean | Mediterranean Sea | Natural Earth marine areas (public domain), point-in-polygon |
| Nearest coast | Spain | Natural Earth (public domain); approx. 29 km from land |
| Position | 37.5594, -1.2683 | Wikidata P625 coordinate location (CC0) |
About the wreck
The Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón are two wrecks dated to the 7th century BC, found off the coast of Mazarrón, in the Region of Murcia, Spain. The shipwreck site was identified in 1988 by archaeologists from the Spanish National Museum of Maritime Archaeology and the National Center for Underwater Archaeological Research. In July 1991, the remains of a first ship, dubbed Mazarrón I, were identified, and has undergone excavation, extraction, and restoration since 1993. It is currently on display at the Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena. The second shipwreck, dubbed Mazarrón II, was discovered in 1994, and was found in a better state of preservation. After years of study, its was extracted in November 2024.
The shipwrecks demonstrates hybrid shipbuilding techniques including pegged mortise and tenon joints, as well as sewn seams, providing evidence of technological experimentation in maritime construction during the Iron Age. In 2009, the Centro de Interpretación del Barco Fenicio del Puerto de Mazarrón (Interpretation Center of the Phoenician Ship of the Port of Mazarrón) was inaugurated.
Diving & visiting
The shipwreck site was identified in 1988 during coastal surveys off the coast of the Playa de la Isla and the Isla del Puerto in Mazarrón; the construction of a marina altered the local currents and exposed a ship's wooden structures. The discovery was made by archaeologists from the Spanish National Museum of Subaquatic Archaeology and the National Center for Underwater Archaeological Research. Between 1988 and 1995, excavation and fieldwork activities at Playa de la Isla were directed by archaeologist Juan Pinedo Reyes. In July 1991, the remains of a first wooden vessel, dubbed Mazarrón I, was identified.
Location
- Recorded position: 37.5594, -1.2683 (Wikidata P625 coordinate location (CC0); may be approximate)
- Sea / ocean: Mediterranean Sea
- Nearest coast: Spain
Wreck positions on this site are for interest only and are not for navigation. Many wrecks are war graves or legally protected: never disturb human remains or remove artefacts, and check local law before diving.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón (revision 1365373587), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: excerpted from the article lead section and section(s) “Discovery, excavation and exhibition”; condensed by selecting paragraphs; citations and formatting removed. No text added. This excerpt is available under the same licence.
Wreck facts from Wikidata (CC0).
Nearby wrecks
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- Ursa Major 2024 · 127 km
- U-605 1942 · 138 km
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