Reunión Internacional de Expertos para la extracción del pecio Mazarrón 2. Cartagena. 2022

In May 2022, the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQVA) hosted an important meeting of experts in underwater archaeology to discuss the current situation of the Mazarrón 2 shipwreck and to consider the actions to be taken in the coming years.

This event brought together experts from the Ministry of Culture, the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, and various international institutions and organizations such as ARC-Nucléart of Grenoble, ICOM-CC WOAM (Wet Organic Archaeological Materials), the Centre Camille-Julien, and the University of Istanbul, among others.

The Phoenician shipwreck Mazarrón 2, discovered off the coast of Mazarrón, Murcia, is one of the most significant underwater archaeological finds from antiquity. This vessel, which has remained almost intact with part of its cargo preserved, has been protected since its discovery through various methods to prevent deterioration due to underwater conditions and human activity.

The history of Mazarrón 2 is closely linked to the geomorphological changes of the Mazarrón coast. In the early 20th century, mining activities and the construction of a marina in the 1970s altered the marine current, changing the coastline and significantly affecting the sedimentary balance. These changes led to the disappearance of the original beach and the emergence of an archaeological layer from the Phoenician period, of which Mazarrón 2 is one of the most notable discoveries.

The shipwreck was first documented in 1994 as a small vessel measuring 8.15 x 2.20 meters. Over the years, various interventions have been carried out to protect it. In 1999-2001, its cargo, consisting of ingots of lead oxide, was recovered. Although it was initially proposed to extract the hull, it was decided to protect it in situ with sand, nets, sandbags, gravel, and a metal box—a milestone in the conservation of underwater archaeological remains.

Since then, ARQVA has conducted several documentation and diagnostic projects to assess the stability of the shipwreck, but the coastal dynamics have continued to affect the protective structure, leading to the formation of an expert committee in 2017. This committee concluded that the shipwreck could be at risk due to the sinking of the protective box caused by the loss of sand in the area. To mitigate this risk, reinforcement work on the protective structure was carried out in 2020.

Faced with the imminent threat to Mazarrón 2, the Spanish Government and the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia decided to launch a program for the excavation and recovery of the shipwreck, scheduled for 2023. This process will be carried out in the ARQVAtec Laboratory of the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena, following the highest methodological, ethical, and deontological standards of UNESCO and ICOM. This intervention represents a unique opportunity to advance knowledge in nautical archaeology and the processes of conservation and restoration of waterlogged wood.

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