Construction Workers Discover ‘Skeleton’ of Medieval Ship

Construction workers excavating the site of a former fish market in Spain made a breathtaking discovery in the form of a medieval wooden ship.

The Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) reported (via Euro News) that the ship was unearthed between April 10 and 15 in the Catalan capital at the site of what was formerly a fish market, making the ship’s final resting place a fitting one. The ship, named Ciutadella, dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The ICUB related the discovery to the city’s rich maritime history.

Related: Archaeologists Find Chilling Scene During Pompeii Excavation

“Starting in 1439, with the construction of the first artificial docks, the dynamics of the coastline were altered, and the sandbar known as the Tasca, which had protected the city for centuries, disappeared,” a statement read. “The combination of coastal drift, the mouth of the Besòs River, and storms caused a rapid advance of the beach, covering ancient marine spaces.”

Unearthed from the ground was the ship’s complete “skeleton,” which measured 32 feet long and 10 feet wide and included about 30 still-intact wooden frames. “At least seven stakes of the hull” were also recovered, according to the statement. “The planks are nailed to the frames with circular-section wooden pegs, a type of wooden nail used to join the pieces,” the ICUB explained.

“Two longitudinal pieces – palmellars or saws – fixed with iron nails are also preserved,” the statement continued. “This system, known as skeleton construction, was common in the medieval Mediterranean and spread throughout Europe from the mid-15th century.”

Related: Archaeologists Discover Oldest-Known Neanderthal Artifact

The ICUB stipulated that the ship is “in a very fragile state of preservation” and noted that its survival in any form is nothing short of miraculous considering how rapidly wood is known to deteriorate. “Although wood is a common material in historical shipbuilding, it only preserves in very specific environments, such as aquatic ones, and deteriorates rapidly when exposed to air,” the ICUB said. “The waterlogged wood is extremely sensitive, and to prevent it from drying out and degrading, it has been partially covered with the original sand that surrounded it.”

The ICUB is now working with the Archaeology Service of Barcelona, “with advice from the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia – Centre for Underwater Archaeology of Catalonia (CASC) – to ensure the proper documentation and preservation of the structure.”