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Date Published: 11/01/2022

ARCHIVED - Mazarron II: fears that Phoenician wreck could disappear due to lack of protection

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

The retired director of the National Museum of Underwater Archeology of Cartagena fears for the future of the wreck

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Mazarron II: fears that Phoenician wreck could disappear due to lack of protection

The 2,700-year-old Mazarron II Phoenician boat which has lain on the seabed in bay of Mazarrón since the 7th Century could be lost forever due to errors in its protection, according to the retired director of the National Museum of Underwater Archeology of Cartagena, Iván Negueruela.

In a recent interview, he warned that “the oldest preserved ship in the world could disappear as a result of a DANA (cold spell) or hurricane”.

The complete wreck with various items from the cargo was found in 1998, close to the wreck of the Mazarron I, and was covered in a metal case and a layer of sand to avoid any deterioration in its condition.

In 2016, there were plans to bring the ship to the surface so that it could be exhibited, and since then a series of studies have examined the options available in order to find the most suitable method to preserve the vessel and to make it available for public viewing.

At the time, the decision was made to leave the vessel on the seabed with a protective metal covering, and although the vessel has been subjected to periodical inspections, according to Negueruela, the Mazarron II “now sits at the bottom of the sea, surrounded by the walls of the box, but without lids”.

“What’s more, the last two expeditions show that not even the crossbeams on which they previously stood are still there,” he said. “Between the ship and the steel roof we put sand, which is the best protector, the one that has preserved it for 2,700 years.

“In 2000 we opened it up to excavate it and take out the objects it contained. I said it had to be extracted in its entirety, but the ministry only offered 500,000 pesetas (3,000 euros), so we left it pending better times.”

In 2008, the box was once again opened, but not closed properly after the expedition, claims Negueruela.

“They left the plates that protected it without the padlocks that prevented it from moving in the event of a storm. The Government of the Region of Murcia, which was responsible, did not send quarterly inspections to check that everything was going well, and already 80 sandbags have been broken.”

The former museum director, who retired in October 2021, recalls the moment he heard the wreck had been located.

“It was complete, from bow to stern, and sealed by a kind of carpet of dead seaweed. It was ideal for archaeologists and was like the tomb of Tutankhamun that Howard Carter found sealed.

“Pieces of wood from the ship and seaweed were sent to Holland and dated to between 630 and 600 BC,” he said, adding that his heart “still aches” at the thought of alternative proposals to have the Mazarron II lifted from the bottom of the sea “and sawn into pieces”.

“I wrote to the minister at the time, José Guirao, who reacted immediately and prevented it,” recalls Negueruela, who now wants to see efforts made to ensure the wreck won’t deteriorate and be lost forever.

In 2019 a project was put forward to remove the boat by dismantling the structure, but no companies put forward bids to undertake the project.

Image: Archive

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