The Consell de Mallorca visits ARQVA to learn about cases similar to the Ses Fontanelles wreck

The Vice President of the Consell de Mallorca and Island Councilor of Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, visited the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (Arqva) and its Arqvatec laboratory in Cartagena this Tuesday, April 8, to learn about the protocols and technical processes applied in interventions similar to the case of the Ses Fontanelles wreck.

The island institution and a committee of experts have been working for years on the project of extraction and conservation-restoration of the Ses Fontanelles wreck, as explained by the island institution in a statement.

This is a wooden ship about 12 meters long, dated between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, which was found in 2019 on the beach of Palma just 60 meters from the coast and 2.5 meters deep. It is a unique find of great heritage relevance due to its good state of preservation and the fact that it retains part of its original cargo, such as amphorae and other commercial items.

It is worth noting that its location, just a few meters from the beach and at shallow depth, makes it "especially vulnerable" to erosion and possible looting, which is why experts consider its extraction necessary. The goal is "to guarantee its conservation" and "to enable its study and public exhibition".

For this reason, Roca visited Arqva, the national museum of reference in this field, to learn about similar models of action and evaluate the most suitable procedures.

During the visit, the vice president met with the museum director, Rafael Sabio, and technicians specialized in underwater archaeology and the conservation of materials extracted from the seabed. The purpose of the meeting was to share experiences, assess procedures, and seek advice for a project that represents a milestone in the management of submerged archaeological heritage in Mallorca.

During the day, Roca was able to visit the facilities of Arqvatec, the specialized center where the "Mazarrón II", a 7th-century BC Phoenician ship recently extracted from the coast of Murcia, is currently being treated.

This project, which is a case of success, has set a precedent in the extraction of ancient vessels preserved in an underwater environment and constitutes an internationally referenced case study.

The vice president observed 'in situ' the processes of desalination, stabilization, and restoration of wood, as well as the measures of humidity, temperature, and chemical composition control of the water used to preserve the remains.

"The case of Mazarrón II shows how technology, science, and institutional collaboration can make possible the recovery of a heritage that seemed lost. The Ses Fontanelles wreck deserves the same rigor and ambition," highlighted Roca.

The Consell de Mallorca is currently in the phase of drafting the definitive project for extraction and conservation, which includes a multidisciplinary team comprised of archaeologists, restorers, engineers, geologists, and specialists in various disciplines.

"This project not only aims to recover an exceptional element of maritime past but will also place Mallorca at the center of the international debate on underwater heritage, its recovery, and scientific treatment," concluded the vice president.