Over 100 Shipwrecks Found in Strait of Gibraltar 'Graveyard' Spanning 2,500 Years

Archaeologists have discovered more than 100 shipwrecks in the Bay of Gibraltar (Bay of Algeciras) at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, revealing a 'shipwreck graveyard' spanning nearly 2,500 years. The unpublished study, Project Herakles, was led by Felipe Cerezo Andreo of the University of Cádiz and involved researchers from universities in Spain, Argentina, and Portugal. From 2020 to 2023, they surveyed a 29-square-mile area between Algeciras and the Rock of Gibraltar, identifying 151 archaeological sites. The wrecks date from the Punic era (5th century BCE) to World War II, including 25 from Ancient Rome, several from the Medieval period under Islamic rule, an 18th-century Spanish gunboat (Puente Mayorga IV), and a Maiale submarine used by the Italian navy in WWII. The strait has been a crucial maritime route connecting the Atlantic and Mediterranean, hosting battles like the Battle of Gibraltar (1607) and the First Battle of Algeciras (1801). The team hopes local governments will protect the sites from development, dredging, and climate change, and plans to offer virtual models and 360-degree videos for public education.