The mystery of the 1,600-year-old ‘ghost ship’ appears as intact as yesterday’s sinking

A Roman ghost ship, the Ses Fontanelles, has been found near one of the busiest beaches in Mallorca, Spain, according to the newspaper. The Guardian.

The ship was carrying hundreds of amphorae, a type of flask with a double neck, gourd body, and tapered neck, containing wine, olives, oil and garum (a fermented dipping sauce).

When the ship anchored in Palma Bay, ferocious waves came and buried both the ship and the cargo. It was not until 2019 that people accidentally discovered it, still intact as if it had just been sunk, with the goods lined up neatly.

According to Ancient Origins, The puzzling thing is that the 12-meter-long ghost ship lies just 50 meters from a crowded beach and sinks just 2 meters above sea level, buried shallowly in the sand, but no one discovered it after 16 centuries.

Researchers from the universities of Barcelona, ​​Cadiz and the Balearic Islands have collaborated on an inter-university project called Arqueomallornauta, which aims to analyze maritime traffic in the region through the ghost ship wreck, as the ship is linked Relating to a tumultuous historical period in which the cargo was intact in the vessel provides a wealth of data.

Its unique sand and seawater environment has helped preserve the artifacts to an unbelievable level. Even the house science He also found several intact shoes, a piece of woven fabric, and other items that looked like they had sunk only yesterday.

The ship itself and all the cargo on it were antiques of unparalleled value. The excavation is expected to last until 2023.

There are no remains in the ghost ship, suggesting that the crew were either lucky to have found it ashore, or had been swept away by the waves.