Learn About The Phoenician Ship At Galerias El Flamenco:

The Mayor of San Javier, Pepa Garcia, announced the opening of an Interpretation Centre about the site of an underwater archaeological find near the Isla Grosa, in La Manga. The Interpretation Centre will provide information on the Phoenician ship that sank with a large cargo in 620 BC .The research and study into the find began in 2007. This was undertaken by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) from Texas A & M University and was sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the National Geographic.

The Interpretation Centre, promoted by the Spanish Association of Friends of Underwater Archaeology in collaboration with the municipality of San Javier, will be located in a room donated by the city council in the Commercial Centre Galerias el Flamenco on the La Manga Strip, just before the Zoco area. Photographic exhibitions, displays, lectures, conferences and educational workshops will all be available and open to the public at the Centre in Galerias el Flamenco. After a visit by boat to the wreck location Juan Pinedo, director of the project, said, “The Phoenician vessel, which is approximately 20 metres in length, is the largest of those discovered so far in the Mediterranean.

It was also carrying an important cargo including elephant tusks, some with inscriptions, tin ingots and copper. The ship also carried a complete collection of Phoenician pottery and other objects such as a pedestal, remains of a Phoenician bed and a ritual ivory knife.” The work done so far focuses on the Phoenician ship, but the site, which is known for shipwrecks, has three boats, the other two being contemporary Roman boats .Juan Pinedo co-directed the project with Mark. E. Polzer and a team of volunteer archaeologists from Spain, USA, Greece, Holland, Australia, Italy, France and Turkey.