Three 13th-Century Shipwrecks Discovered in Menorca's Cove of Mysteries

Three medieval shipwrecks from the 13th century have been discovered in Cala en Busquets, an ancient harbor off Ciutadella, Menorca. The wrecks, dubbed Busquets I, II, and III, sank simultaneously around the late 1240s, likely due to a meteotsunami. Excavations led by the Menorca Shipwreck Project—a collaboration between the Explorers Club (New York City) and local archaeologists—began in 2023, though archaeologist Xavier Aguelo Mas first surveyed the site in 2009. Initially thought to be 18th-century vessels, wood-dating analysis in 2025 revealed their true age. The ships' cargo includes both Christian and Islamic artifacts, such as a 13th-century encolpium (religious reliquary) and unbroken Islamic pottery, highlighting trade between Christian and Muslim communities during a turbulent period in Balearic history. The encolpium, described as Menorca's 'artifact of the decade,' is being desalinated at the Museum of Menorca. The Busquets are the first 13th-century shipwrecks found in Menorca and are exceptionally rare in the western Mediterranean, as many medieval wrecks were destroyed by 19th-century harbor construction. The cove remained undisturbed due to Menorca's modern harbor being built elsewhere. Excavations of Busquets I and II are complete; work on Busquets III continues. A research paper is expected in spring 2027.