Archaeology breakthrough as 500-year-old medieval shipwreck found - 'Very important discovery!'

Santi Palacios said: "It’s not just about finding one boat because we now have two examples of perfectly documented naval construction in the city of Barcelona."

The Barcelona Archaeology Service has described the find as being of "special relevance", offering valuable insights into the city's rich maritime history.

The skeletal structure of the ship dates back to around the 15th or 16th century, measuring approximately 32 feet long and 10 feet wide, exhibiting a skeleton design characteristic of the Mediterranean region during the late Middle Ages.

It was found at a depth of more than five metres below sea level, in an area that would have been submerged during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Palacios said that the team had anticipated finding boat remains given the site's proximity to the port.

The ship's structure consists of over thirty curved wooden ribs and seven hull planks, fastened together by wooden dowels and iron nails, a typical construction method medieval boats found in the Mediterranean and across Europe since the mid-15th century.

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After two years of excavation work, the wooden structure gradually emerged from the sandy ground yet remains extremely fragile with any exposure to air posing a risk to its condition.

Archaeologists have used sand to preserve its integrity while crucial tests are conducted.

"The wood has to be kept constantly damp to keep it in a good state," restorer Delia Eguiluz told The Guardian.

The discovery of Ciutadella I is only the second ship archaeologists have unearthed in Barcelona to date after the Barceloneta I, which was discovered in 2008 during construction work near the Estació de França.

The Barceloneta I dates back to the 15th century and its remains are currently exhibited at the Museum of History of Barcelona.

The fragile remains of the second ship will now be transferred to specialised facilities for treatment.

"When we move it, we'll have to dismantle it piece by piece so we can continue our research," explained Delia Eguiluz.

The conservation process includes desalination with running water and impregnation with water-soluble wax to reinforce the 500-year-old structure, saturating the wood to strengthen its internal structure for long-term preservation.

This treatment saturates the wood and strengthens its internal structure for long-term preservation.