Uncovering Sunken History
The Menorca Shipwreck Project is an multi-year archaeological expedition that began in the fall of 2023 starting with the excavation of a 300 year old wreck in Cala en Busquets. It is a collaboration between Explorers Club Members, Menorcan and Catalonian archaeologists, local museum staff and cultural heritage professionals. The MSP hosts a field school each year where participants learn the basics of underwater archaeology, improve their scuba diving skills, and learn about the rich multilayered history of Menorca that dates back millennia.
Site Location
Menorca is the easternmost of the Ballearic Islands, on the crossroads of the Mediterranean, an ancient trading hub and modern day travel destination. The Port of Ciutadella is a small harbor on the western side of the island which still serves the local community as well as visiting yachts. Over the past decade, small discoveries during harbor maintenance have led to the designation of the entire port as an underwater archaeological site. At a depth of roughly 5 meters (16 feet), the port area has been described by archaeologists as an ‘underwater museum’ with dozens of wrecks spanning from Roman times through medieval and modern day. The reason for the concentration of wrecks in the protected port is because of an environmental phenomenon called rissagas or meteotsunamis, which are erratic shifts in tide and wind that have suddenly grounded and sank ships and boats for thousands of years.
Project Goals
Within the Port of Ciutadella the area the team will be focusing on is a small cove called ‘Cala en Busquets.’ In preliminary surveys of this area, a Roman Shipwreck was discovered with 20 amphorae in the style of the Baetica Region (1st Century CE, South of Spain), a medieval shipwreck (13-1400s), and an 18th century shipwreck. There are two theories about the 18th century shipwreck, given the archaeological name ‘Busquets 1,’ based on the survey data. The hull appears to be a Pinque or Pink Vessel commonly used for maritime trade. The first theory is that the wreck dates to a period in Spanish history when the crown was actively fighting wars of independence in the New World in the late 1700s. The presence of musket balls could indicate that this ship was bound for the New World for armament resupply when it sunk. The competing theory is that it is a Genovese merchant ship from the early 1700s that was transporting cotton. The team has uncovered material from a wide range of time periods but has focused the work on the top layer of the 18th century shipwreck. Field School expedition members will learn the basics of both these aspects in a series of workshops and technical labs throughout the expedition. In the 2024 season and beyond MSP aims to excavate the other wrecks in the cove and older significant sites around Menorca and the Mediterranean.
Field School Overview
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Pre Expedition
Before the expedition in Menorca we offer an orientation in Barcelona. This includes any refresher scuba courses needed, as well as private tours and excursions not open to the public. Highlights include of the Maritime Museum and behind the scenes restoration laboratories with Director Pere Izquierdo, and a look at the archives and the highest towers of the Barcelona Cathedral with Dr. Robert Baró Cabrera.
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Expedition & Field School
During the expedition the goals of each dive will depend on the stage of the excavation and the conditions. Excavation dives will be in the morning, with a team debrief in the afternoon and talks hosted by the field school facilitators in the evening. Topics will vary from the basics of underwater archaeological methodology to 3D photogrammetry to restoration. Most sessions will be held at the Can Saura Museum in Ciutadella.
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Day to Day
Participants will have free time to wander in Ciutadella and discover the cultural and culinary richness of the island. In the event of bad weather the team will organize a Plan B, that will include exploratory survey dives, private tours of archaeological sites around the island, fun dives, and museum visits. At the end of the expedition participants will receive a certificate signed by our partners.
Meet the Team
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Trevor Wallace
Expedition / Field School Leader
Trevor is a filmmaker and explorer, and has been the Vice President of Research and Education at The Explorers Club since 2019. He has participated in 5 flag expeditions in Siberia, India, and Panama. He has had his work featured by National Geographic, CNN, and Discovery Channel.
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Xavier Aguelo
Science Lead / Metal Specialist
Xavier has twenty-five years of experience in diving, surveying and excavating in the Balearic Islands. Xavier has collaborated with the Museum of Menorca, the Center for Underwater Archeology of Catalonia (CASC) and co-directed the underwater excavations of the Binissafúller and Calescoves wrecks.
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Bruno Parés
Tech Lead
Bruno has a degree in Geography and History from the University of Barcelona (UB) and is a terrestrial and underwater archaeologist specializing in 3D documentation and heritage visualization.
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Dr. Carlos Velasco
Field School Divemaster / Co-Director
Carlos is a Phd in Prehistoric Archeology working for 20 years on the Ancient Bronze Age and the Origins of Complex Societies in the Western Mediterranean. He is a term member of the The Explorers Club, Professional Shallow Diver (Generalitat de Catalunya) and Dive Master (PADI).
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Carolina Godoy
Field School Coordinator
Carolina has her degree in tourism from the University of Leida and is fluent in 6 languages. She is an experienced diver and has worked in the protection of the marine environment and its biodiversity for the last five years. She has worked as a research support staff on various archaeological excavations including the Bastida Project of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
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Octavi Pons
Pottery Specialist / Co-Director
Octavi has a Degree in Geography and History from the University of Barcelona (UB). Since 1996 he has coordinated the work for the elaboration of the underwater archaeological chart of Menorca. He is a staff archaeologist at the Museum of Menorca.
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Dr. Marcel Pujol
Naval Architecture Specialist
PhD in History from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, DEA in Medieval Archeology from the University of Paris I-La Sorbonne. Since 1983, he has participated in archaeological excavations, both on land and underwater in Menorca. Since 1994 he has been professor of Nautical and Underwater Archeology at the University of Barcelona and is currently at the University of Cadis.
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Maria José León
Archaeologist / Museum Director
A graduate in History from the University of Barcelona with a specialization in prehistory and a master's degree in Heritage Management from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Currently, she works as a municipal archaeologist at the Ciutadella City Council and is responsible for the technical management of the Ciutadella Museum, where she also conducts outreach and dissemination work on heritage. She has participated in numerous excavations both on and off the island, and additionally, she is the co-director of the "Entre Illes" project, at the Coll de Cala Morell.
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Gennady Peretz
Archaeologist / Dive Instructor
Gena is an archaeologist with over 20 field excavations around the world in Russia, Israel, and India. He is a certified dive instructor with thousands of dives and is a talented musician.
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Dr. Gino Caspari
Archaeologist
Dr. Gino Caspari is a Swiss archaeologist and explorer, with a background in remote sensing, science communication, and large international collaborations. He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club, a Fulbright alumnus, and Columbia University graduate who focuses on the discovery and analysis of ancient landscapes, graves, and ruins.
Participant testimonials
“The Menorca Shipwreck Project team makes learning and using underwater archeology an absolute joy!”
J. Overholt
“The Menorca Shipwreck Project opened up a new world of underwater archeology for me. What I appreciated the most was the camaraderie, friendliness, patience and overall kindness of our hosts and expedition organizers, who took the time to teach us about their passionate work, the sites, Ciutadella and Menorca in general, and offered purpose to diving and visiting this gem of an island. We were united under The Explorers Club flag and quickly made friends and found many things in common. Truly an unforgettable and unique experience. Muchas Gracias, Merci, Thank You!”
E. Babau
“The opportunity to uncover a shipwreck and various other artifacts— to be one of the first people to see and touch these objects, some of which are over a thousand years old— is a deeply moving, incredibly unique once in a lifetime experience”
J. Rousher
Activities on Menorca
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Local Cuisine
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Rock Climbing
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Kayaking the Coast
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Wreck Dives
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Museum and Historic Site Visits
Partners
Webinar
Trevor and the team took time to share more about the site, answer questions, and describe what the expedition this coming fall will be like.
Contact Us
Phone
+1 (415) 860-4816 (Whatsapp)
Email
trevorwallace90@gmail.com
FAQs
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With all estimated travel, tuition, and accommodation cost, the field school is $9,500-$11,500 for the two weeks (possible extension included in this estimate). The field school tuition helps fund the expedition costs: Vacuums, pump, grids, small boat rental for artifact extraction. Salaries of specialists and expedition team. Administrative costs for permits, archival research, travel and logistics planning Lectures, curricula, and materials for course. Exclusive museums visits/tours. Tanks for expedition dives
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In the 2024 campaign we hope to have one or more scholarship spots based on both merit and need. Stay tuned for announcements and application details.
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No previous archaeology experience necessary, though having an PADI Open Water or Equivalent Certificate is strongly encouraged.
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The expedition team will help book travel, gear equipment, accommodations, insurance, activities, etc. for field school participants.
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Tentative dates:
Pre expedition in Barcelona: September 24th-28th
Session 1: September 30th- October 12th
Session 2: October 13th-October 25th
Session 3: October 27th-November 7th