Researchers Uncover 150 Shipwrecks in Bay of Gibraltar, Warn of Deterioration Risk

Researchers with Project Herakles have uncovered more than 100 historic shipwrecks on the seafloor of the Bay of Gibraltar, a narrow waterway linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The team warns the vessels are at risk of deteriorating.

The joint venture between Spain's University of Cádiz and the University of Granada has been underway for six years. Researchers identified 150 underwater archaeological sites, the majority shipwrecks, spanning from the 5th century B.C. to World War II-era vessels. The finds include 23 Roman ships, four medieval ships, and the engine and propeller of a 1930s plane.

"Before starting Project Herakles in 2019, only four underwater sites were known in the area; today we have information on more than 150 documented sites in just three years of work," said Felipe Cerezo Andreo, a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Cádiz. "They can now be studied, protected and shared."

The team combined historical research with advanced technology to locate, map and study the wrecks. "We began by analyzing historical archives, museums and interviewing the local community of fishermen and divers, who know the seabed better than anyone," Andreo said.

Archaeologists used marine scanning technology, including magnetometers to detect metallic anomalies. Most recorded shipwrecks date from the 18th to 20th centuries, but older Phoenician, Punic and Roman vessels are also buried in the sands.

"The bay was a very important space in antiquity," Andreo said. "We have evidence of settlements such as Carteia and Iulia Traducta that used these waters as their main port. Although the more recent ships are more visible, beneath them lie Phoenician, Punic, and Roman wrecks that tell the maritime history of both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic."

The scale of the findings suggests the area holds a continuous record of maritime history. "This tells us we are not dealing with isolated shipwrecks, but rather a submerged historical archive that has recorded every commercial and military movement since antiquity," Andreo said. "The bay has functioned as a funnel of global history, and this is reflected in a seabed that preserves archaeological evidence."

Most ships are in critical condition, with threats from human activity such as port work, construction and looting. "We have identified that a large portion of these 150 sites are at significant risk of deterioration," he said. "Some are directly exposed on the seabed, making them vulnerable to erosion."

An invasive algae called Rugulopteryx okamurae is drastically altering the marine environment and hindering preservation and study of the remains, Andreo said. The team prioritizes non-intrusive documentation such as photogrammetry and 3D models to record everything before it disappears, following UNESCO principles of in situ conservation.

The shipwrecks remain a living cultural resource. "We want society to feel that these shipwrecks are their museums beneath the sea," Andreo said. The team plans an underwater park and VR experiences to let people explore the sites without causing further damage.

"Ultimately, protecting these remains is about protecting the pages of the book that explain who we are today."