Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón
Reconstruction of the Phoenician shipwreck Mazarron II in the National Museum of Subaquatic Archaeology (ARQUA) | |
| Location | Playa de la Isla , off the coast of Mazarrón, Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°33′34″N 1°16′6″W / 37.55944°N 1.26833°W |
| Type | Site of a sunken ship |
| History | |
| Founded | 7th–6th century BC |
| Abandoned | 7th–6th century BC |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Cultures | Phoenician, Iberian |
| Site notes | |
| Discovered | 1988 (Mazarrón I) 1994 (Mazarrón II) |
| Condition | Conserved at the National Museum of Subaquatic Archaeology in Cartagena |
| Ownership | Spain |
The Phoenician shipwrecks of Mazarrón are two wrecks dated to the late seventh or sixth century BC, found off the coast of Mazarrón, in the Region of Murcia, Spain. The shipwrecks demonstrate hybrid shipbuilding techniques including pegged mortise and tenon joints, as well as sewn seams, providing evidence of technological experimentation in maritime construction during the Iron Age. The ship is considered "extremely important" for historic research into "naval construction, commercial goods, navigation routes, and the relationships between the Phoenicians and the local population of that time. In comparison to other similar findings, Mazarrón ships and their lead cargo remained in a "reasonable conservation state".
The shipwreck site was identified in 1988 by archaeologists from the Spanish National Museum of Subaquatic Archaeology and the National Center for Underwater Archaeological Research. In July 1991, the remains of a first ship, dubbed Mazarrón I, were identified, and has undergone excavation, extraction, and restoration since 1993. It is currently on display at the National Museum of Subaquatic Archaeology in Cartagena. The second shipwreck, dubbed Mazarrón II, was discovered in 1994, and was found in a better state of preservation. After years of study, its was extracted in November 2024.
In 2009, the Centro de Interpretación del Barco Fenicio del Puerto de Mazarrón (Interpretation Center of the Phoenician Ship of the Port of Mazarrón) was inaugurated to showcase an exhibition dedicated to Mazarrón I and Mazarrón II. It serves as a center for learning, offering visitors insights into the historical and cultural significance of the Mazarrón ships.