Roman Shipwreck Off Villajoyosa Coast Revalidated By Unesco For Best Practices

The Roman shipwreck Bou Ferrer has had its UNESCO nickname reaffirmed arsenic an world illustration of champion believe successful nan section of Underwater Cultural Heritage. The announcement was made by nan Mayor of Villajoyosa, Marcos Zaragoza, connected Friday 11 July, during nan 2nd Seminar connected Scientific Diving Applied to Cultural Heritage, held astatine Vilamuseu.

The task “A Roman shipwreck for society: nan Bou Ferrer wreck” was added to UNESCO’s Register of Best Practices successful Underwater Cultural Heritage successful 2017, arsenic an illustration of excellence successful nan protection, research, and guidance of underwater taste assets. The Bou Ferrer is besides nan first underwater tract successful nan Valencian Community to beryllium declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC).

“This is awesome news—having this nickname renewed is simply a awesome achievement,” said Zaragoza.

The Roman wreck lies astatine a extent of 25 metres, conscionable 1,000 metres disconnected nan coast, other nan beaches of Villajoyosa. It is believed to person been 1 of nan ample Roman merchant sailing ships that sailed from Cádiz to nan ports of Rome.

UNESCO recognised nan task for promoting responsible, non-intrusive nationalist entree to taste heritage, raising nationalist awareness, enhancing practice protection, and supporting technological research.

The task was besides selected arsenic a exemplary of champion believe owed to its committedness to scheduled tract visits nether archaeological supervision, nan nationalist accumulation of recovered artefacts successful museums and exhibitions, and nan dissemination of findings astatine conferences and world forums.

The Mayor highlighted nan cardinal domiciled nan Bou Ferrer wreck plays successful establishing Villajoyosa arsenic a reference constituent for underwater heritage: “The Bou Ferrer reached our shores hundreds of years ago, and coming it continues to bring knowledge, investigation and visitors. Villajoyosa remains a gateway to Mediterranean practice and discovery.”

The seminar astatine Vilamuseu

The Seminar connected Scientific Diving Applied to Cultural Heritage is organised by nan Villajoyosa University Campus of nan University of Alicante, successful collaboration pinch nan Town Council and nan Generalitat Valenciana.

The arena features 25 speakers from crossed Spain, representing 7 universities and six investigation centres. Registered students will be 15 keynote lectures, successful summation to 3 specialised talks focused connected shipwreck betterment successful Spain. The seminar includes 3 applicable workshops and 3 statement sessions. Attendees will besides sojourn nan Bou Ferrer mentation centre, nan retention facility, and nan underwater archaeology laboratories astatine Vilamuseu.

The seminar is supported by nan Spanish Navy, nan Special Group for Underwater Activities (GEAS) of nan Guardia Civil, nan Generalitat Valenciana, nan University Institute for Archaeology and Historical Heritage (INAPH) astatine nan University of Alicante (UA), and Jaume I University.

About nan Bou Ferrer wreck

The Bou Ferrer is simply a ample Roman merchant alloy that sank successful mid-century astatine a extent of 25 metres, astir 1,000 metres from nan coastline. It measured astir 30 metres successful length, pinch a carrying capacity of astir 230 tonnes.

The vessel was transporting a main cargo of astir 2,500 amphorae, produced successful kilns specified arsenic nan 1 astatine Villanueva de Puerto Real successful Cádiz. Each amphora held astir 40 litres of a food condiment made from anchovies, mackerel, and equine mackerel.

Today, nan Bou Ferrer is nan only ample Roman merchant alloy successful nan full Mediterranean that combines exceptional preservation pinch a diving extent accessible to underwater archaeologists. These 2 factors, pursuing its find by José Bou and Antoine Ferrer successful 2001, led to a bid of initiatives aimed astatine studying and preserving nan site.

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