Roman shipwreck reaches England
The Roman shipwreck, Bou Ferrer, which is exhibited in Vilamuseu, Villajoyosa, is forming part of Billy Wretham’s Spanish ‘A’ level exams.
Billy (pictured) attends the excellent Painsley Catholic College in Cheadle, Staffs, England and when he visited Villajoyosa with his grandfather (who is a volunteer at the museum), he was fascinated by the story of the wreck and the artefacts which have been excavated; he decided to make it part of his Spanish ‘A’ level studies. The wreck is only 1000 metres off the Villajoyosa beach and has lain there undisturbed in this busy fishing bay for nearly 2000 years.
The Roman shipwreck, named Bou Ferrer after the two sports divers who found it in 1999, is a spectacular discovery and lies just off the coast of Villajoyosa. It is the best preserved Roman shipwreck currently being excavated in the Mediterranean. UNESCO has included it in the
‘Registro Mundial de Buenas Prácticas del Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático’ (World Register of Best Practices of Underwater Cultural Heritage). At the time, it was sailing from Cadiz (formerly Gades) to the Roman port of Ostia when it floundered off the coast of Villajoyosa (formerly Allon). Large ships such as these, 30 metres long by 12 metres wide, did not have oars and therefore needed to keep within sight of land as they sailed around the Mediterranean. It was loaded with nearly 4000 jars (amphorae) full of valuable fish sauce. The jars were stacked 4 deep on the ship using vines to act as shock absorbers. Also on board were lead ingots weighing 70 kilograms each, stamped with the name of Emperor Nero. From the wording on the ingots it is clear that they were destined for use in Rome’s water supply. To date, two coins have also been found which date the ship to between 66 and 68 AD.
All of these discoveries and much more are on display at Vilamuseu, but more especially there are guided tours in Spanish and English, including Bou Ferrer tours; visit the Vilamuseu website www.vilamuseu.es/en for times and dates. Sub aquatic visits to explore the wreck can be arranged provided, of course, certain conditions are met with regard to diving experience and health.
A visit to Vilamuseu is well worth it as it is a very new and different museum which prides itself on its inclusivity.