Archaeologists in Barcelona have uncovered a large medieval shipwreck buried beneath the site of a former fish market. They believe the vessel, likely sunk during a storm in the 15th or 16th century, lay hidden near the city’s coast for around 500 to 600 years.
The discovery came during excavation work for a new science center focused on biomedicine and biodiversity. The site has produced several historical finds, including parts of an air-raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War, remnants of the old market, and traces of Barcelona’s 18th-century history.
Earlier this month, the team uncovered the ship’s broken stern. A large section of the vessel, measuring 10 meters long and 3 meters wide, was found roughly 5 meters below sea level. More than 30 curved wooden ribs are visible along the wreck.
The ship’s frame was constructed with wood and iron nails. Experts say the construction style matches boats that sailed across the Mediterranean and Europe from the mid-15th century.
Santi Palacios, the lead archaeologist, said the team had expected to find maritime remains because of the site’s location near the old port and an artificial stone wall that once protected the harbor. Both areas were active working zones during the medieval period.
“Two years later, we’ve been lucky enough to find a boat,” Palacios said.
The surviving wood, now named Ciutadella I after the nearby Ciutadella park, is extremely fragile. To prevent further damage, archaeologists have kept the wreck damp and covered it with the same sand that preserved it for centuries.
Delia Eguiluz, a conservation specialist, said the wood must stay perpetually wet to avoid cracking or crumbling. “When we move it, we’ll have to dismantle it piece by piece so we can continue our research,” Eguiluz said.
The team is mapping the site, labeling every part of the wreck, and collecting samples. In the next stage, the remains will be moved to a special facility, where they will be treated with a water-based wax to strengthen and preserve the wood.
Researchers hope the ship’s materials—the wood, nails, and resin—will provide new insights into medieval shipbuilding techniques and help determine where the vessel was constructed. The find comes 17 years after the discovery of Barceloneta I, a 15th-century ship found near a railway station in Barcelona. Unlike Ciutadella I, that vessel was Cantabrian in style.
“This is a very important discovery,” said Palacios. “It’s not just about finding one boat because we now have two examples of perfectly documented naval construction in the city of Barcelona.”
