Recently, a team of archaeologists and researchers studied the remains of a late Roman shipwreck off the coast of Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The Ses Fontanelles shipwreck, discovered by chance in 2019 near one of the island’s busiest tourist beaches, has proven to be an exceptional find due to the excellent preservation of its hull and cargo.

The initial study of the materials recovered from the first excavations allowed for the classification of ceramic finds, primarily amphorae, and raised some key questions about the origin and contents of the cargo. To answer these questions, a preliminary analytical strategy was designed, combining various methods and techniques, including petrographic, archaeozoological, and organic residue analysis, along with the study of wood and other plant remains.

The results of this multi-analytical approach have shed new light on this remarkable shipwreck. Petrographic analysis of the amphorae suggests that the ship likely departed from the Cartagena area, in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Location of the Ses Fontanelles wreck in the vicinity of the area of the same name in Mallorca, according to Munar Llabrés et al. 2022. The area shaded in gray corresponds to the former Pla or Prat de Catí lagoon, now called Ses Fontanelles, and the region shaded in blue indicates the visible remains of this historical lagoon
Location of the Ses Fontanelles wreck in the vicinity of the area of the same name in Mallorca, according to Munar Llabrés et al. 2022. The area shaded in gray corresponds to the former Pla or Prat de Catí lagoon, now called Ses Fontanelles, and the region shaded in blue indicates the visible remains of this historical lagoon. Credit: M.A. Cau-Ontiveros et al.

Archaeozoological studies reveal that the fish sauce carried in the Ses Fontanelles I type amphorae (a new type of amphora only found in this wreck), identified by their inscriptions as liquaminis flos, was mainly made with anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus), with occasional sardines. Similarly, the inscriptions identify the manufacturers: Ausonius et Alunni.

On the other hand, organic residue analysis provides information on the contents of the various amphorae. Some show evidence of animal products, possibly related to the fish sauce, but also of grape derivatives, which could have been used as a condiment.

The flat-bottomed amphorae, for their part, contained traces of vegetable oil, and in one case, even olives preserved in a grape-based substance.

Plan of the wreck with the position of the cargo amphorae documented during the excavation process
Plan of the wreck with the position of the cargo amphorae documented during the excavation process. Credit: M.A. Cau-Ontiveros et al.

The study of the wood used in the construction of the hull reveals a careful selection of forest resources. Pine was used for the longitudinal elements of the hull, while smaller pieces related to the assembly system were made from harder woods like juniper, olive, and laurel. Additionally, vine branches and other herbaceous plants were found, used as filler and protection for the cargo during the journey.

Altogether, these results suggest that the ship was primarily carrying a cargo of fish sauce (liquaminis flos), oil, and grape derivatives, probably from the Cartagena area in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.

The excellent state of preservation of the hull and cargo, along with the presence of the aforementioned painted inscriptions on the amphorae, make this shipwreck a unique find in the Mediterranean, providing valuable information on commercial dynamics in Late Antiquity.

Main types of amphorae documented in the Ses Fontanelles wreck: DSF-179 and DSF-189, Almagro 51c with tituli picti; DSF-266, flat bottom amphora; DSF-002, Ses Fontanelles I type
Main types of amphorae documented in the Ses Fontanelles wreck: DSF-179 and DSF-189, Almagro 51c with tituli picti; DSF-266, flat bottom amphora; DSF-002, Ses Fontanelles I type. Credit: M.A. Cau-Ontiveros et al.

This initial analysis has laid the groundwork for more extensive future research, which will include a complete excavation of the site, a detailed study of the naval architecture and cargo, and the application of an even broader multi-analytical approach.

Sources

Cau-Ontiveros, M.Á., Bernal-Casasola, D., Pecci, A. et al. Multianalytical approach to the exceptional Late Roman shipwreck of Ses Fontanelles (Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain). Archaeol Anthropol Sci 16, 58 (2024). doi.org/10.1007/s12520-024-01952-3

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