Archaeologists excavating a former fish market in Barcelona have uncovered the wreck of a ship that may have sunk off the Catalonian coast around 500 years ago, Reuters reports.
The team discovered the ruined stern of a large vessel, likely to have gone down in the 15th or 16th centuries. A sizeable fragment of the ship, measuring 10 meters long and 3 meters wide, with more than 30 curved wooden ribs, was found well-preserved at a depth of 5 meters below sea level.
Santiago Palacios, 30, director of the archaeological team, said the discovery is of great significance because well-preserved underwater archaeological remains are rare. He added that more details will emerge as the excavation progresses.
“What we’ve uncovered is a fragment of a ship, likely of Mediterranean-style construction, but with influences from the Atlantic—probably from the Basque Country or Galicia”, he added.
To ensure the preservation of the naval find, the team must prevent it from drying out, meaning it must be constantly watered both day and night.
