CIUTADELLA, MENORCA — In the silt-laden waters of Cala en Busquets, visibility often drops to a state archaeologists describe as "chocolate." It is a challenging, opaque environment where the past is literally buried under centuries of sediment. Yet, beneath this murky shroud, a team of international researchers has uncovered a maritime treasure trove that is redefining our understanding of the medieval Mediterranean.

The Menorca Shipwreck Project, a collaborative effort between the New York-based Explorers Club and local Spanish heritage experts, has recently confirmed the discovery of three 13th-century trading vessels. Dubbed Busquets I, II, and III, these ships represent a rare "archaeological time capsule" from a period of intense religious and political transition on the Balearic Islands. Caught in the crosshairs of the Christian Reconquista and the waning Moorish caliphates, the cargo within these hulls offers a silent testimony to a world where trade often transcended the boundaries of holy war.

Main Facts: The Triple Discovery in the ‘Cove of Mysteries’

The site of the discovery, popularly known as the "Cove of Mysteries," is an ancient natural harbor off the coast of Ciutadella. While the cove is known to host wreckage spanning two millennia—including Roman and Phoenician remains—the identification of three contemporaneous 13th-century vessels is a find of global significance.

The Busquets Trio

The three vessels, named after the cove where they rested undisturbed for over 750 years, were initially believed to be 18th-century wrecks. However, advanced dendrochronology (wood-dating analysis) conducted in early 2025 provided a startling correction: the timbers date back to the late 1240s.

"Shipwrecks from this period are incredibly rare in the archaeological record," explains Beverly Goodman-Tchernov, a marine geoarchaeologist at the University of Haifa. "Most medieval shipwrecks in the western Mediterranean were destroyed during 19th-century harbor expansions. The Busquets ships survived only because Menorca’s modern commercial port was built on the opposite side of the island."

A Cargo of Convergence

What sets the Busquets vessels apart is the diversity of their contents. Unlike the monolithic cargoes of earlier Roman ships, these vessels carried a hybrid of cultural artifacts. Among the finds are:

• Islamic Ceramics: Intact pottery from Moorish communities, showcasing the sophisticated glazed techniques of the era.
• The Christian Encolpium: A rare bronze reliquary, likely belonging to a high-ranking member of the clergy, featuring an engraving of a king with a scepter.
• Trade Goods: Evidence of iron artifacts and organic materials that suggest these were active merchant ships operating in a high-risk maritime corridor.

Chronology: From Moorish Rule to Archaeological Breakthrough

The timeline of the Busquets vessels is a narrative of both ancient catastrophe and modern persistence.

The 13th-Century Context (1229–1287)

In the mid-13th century, the Balearic Islands were the front lines of a geopolitical shift. James I of Aragon had conquered Mallorca in 1229 and Ibiza in 1235. During the late 1240s—the period when the Busquets ships are believed to have sunk—Menorca remained a Moorish taifa (principality), though it was under increasing pressure from Christian kingdoms. The ships were likely navigating this delicate political landscape, trading between Muslim-held ports and the expanding Christian territories of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Moment of Loss (Late 1240s)

Evidence suggests all three ships sank simultaneously. The cause was likely a rissaga, or meteorological tsunami. These unpredictable surges in sea level, triggered by rapid atmospheric pressure changes, can turn a calm harbor into a churning cauldron within minutes. The Busquets vessels were likely battered against the rocky shallows of the cove before being swallowed by the silt.

The Modern Discovery (2009–2027)

• 2009: Catalan archaeologist Xavier Aguelo Mas first surveys the site, suspecting the presence of significant medieval remains despite skepticism from the broader community.
• 2023: The Menorca Shipwreck Project officially begins excavations, funded and supported by the Explorers Club.
• 2024: The "artifact of the decade," the Christian encolpium, is recovered near a submerged millstone.
• 2025: Wood-dating analysis confirms the 13th-century origin, debunking the 18th-century theory.
• 2027: The project aims to publish its full peer-reviewed findings, following the complete excavation of Busquets III.

Supporting Data: The Science of Underwater Preservation

The recovery of the Busquets ships relies on a blend of historical theory and innovative physical techniques.

The ‘Barrel vs. Amphora’ Theory

One reason these ships remained hidden from looters for centuries is the evolution of maritime storage. In the Roman era, ships carried amphorae—large ceramic jars that create prominent mounds on the seafloor, acting as beacons for treasure hunters. By the medieval period, merchants had largely switched to wooden barrels.

"In underwater archaeology, we say the barrel killed the amphora," says Aguelo Mas. Because wood decays more readily than ceramic, medieval wrecks often lack a "profile" on the seabed. They become flat, covered by sediment, and invisible to the naked eye, preserving them from the pillaging that has stripped many Roman sites bare.

The ‘Queen Elizabeth’ Technique

Working in near-zero visibility requires specialized excavation methods. The team utilizes a technique nicknamed the "Queen Elizabeth" wave by diver Kevin Carrigan. This involves a specific, controlled hand motion—resembling the late monarch’s signature wave—to gently stir the fine silt without damaging fragile artifacts. The suspended sediment is then removed via a suction discharge tube, slowly revealing the timbers and cargo beneath.

Official Responses: Expert Insights on the Find

The discovery has drawn praise and analysis from leading figures in the field of maritime history.

Trevor J. Wallace, the founder of the Menorca Shipwreck Project and an expedition leader for the Explorers Club, emphasizes the narrative power of the site. "It’s an unraveling story," Wallace says. "This tiny little cove is essentially an underwater museum that hasn’t been curated until now. Every dive brings us closer to understanding the people who sailed these ships during one of history’s most turbulent centuries."

Marcel Pujol Hamelink, a renowned expert on medieval shipbuilding, notes that the construction of the Busquets ships provides vital data on 13th-century naval architecture. "These finds offer proof that Christian traders and Muslim Moors were not two worlds apart," Hamelink asserts. "The shared technology and shared trade routes revealed here suggest a level of economic interconnectedness that historical texts often overlook in favor of detailing battles."

Beverly Goodman-Tchernov adds that the site is a rare opportunity to study the impact of ancient natural disasters. "The fact that these ships likely fell victim to a meteotsunami allows us to map the frequency of these events over centuries, providing data that is relevant even to modern coastal management in the Balearics."

Implications: Rewriting the Medieval Mediterranean Narrative

The implications of the Busquets discovery extend far beyond the shores of Menorca. They challenge the traditional historical view of the 13th-century Mediterranean as a purely binary conflict between the Cross and the Crescent.

Economic Pragmatism in a Time of War

The presence of a high-ranking Christian religious artifact (the encolpium) alongside Islamic trade pottery suggests that merchant vessels were hubs of cultural and religious intersection. It implies that even as kings fought for territory, the sea remained a medium for exchange, where economic pragmatism often outweighed religious animosity.

The Enigma of the Encolpium

The bronze reliquary is currently undergoing a meticulous desalination process at the Museum of Menorca. Once stable, archivists plan to open the artifact. Whether it contains a fragment of bone, a piece of sacred parchment, or another relic, its presence on a merchant vessel raises questions about the identity of the passengers. Was a high-ranking cleric fleeing a conflict, or was the object a high-value trade item?

Future Outlook

As the team moves toward the 2027 publication of their research, the focus remains on Busquets III, the final vessel of the trio to be fully documented. However, Aguelo Mas and Wallace believe the "Cove of Mysteries" has not yet yielded all its secrets.

"We are cautiously optimistic that more vessels lie beneath the silt," says Aguelo Mas. "We could be looking at Busquets IV or V. The topography of this harbor suggests it was a trap for ships during storms for thousands of years."

For now, the Busquets ships stand as the most significant medieval maritime discovery in the region in decades—a reminder that beneath the "chocolate" waters of Menorca, the 13th century is still very much alive, waiting to be cleared of the silt of time.