More than 100 historic shipwrecks identified at key global shipping route, many at risk
Over 100 historic shipwrecks have been identified in the Bay of Gibraltar, a key maritime passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The discoveries, made by Project Herakles over six years, span from the 5th century B.C. to World War II and include Roman, medieval, and 20th-century vessels. Researchers warn that many of the sites are in critical condition and at risk due to human activity and environmental factors.
- ▪Project Herakles, a collaboration between the University of Cádiz and the University of Granada, identified 150 underwater archaeological sites in the Bay of Gibraltar.
- ▪The shipwrecks date from the 5th century B.C. to the 20th century, including 23 Roman ships and remnants of a 1930s aircraft.
- ▪Before 2019, only four underwater sites were known in the area; now over 150 have been documented.
- ▪Researchers used historical archives, local knowledge, and marine scanning technology like magnetometers to locate the wrecks.
- ▪Many of the sites are at significant risk due to port construction, looting, and natural deterioration.
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Archaeology More than 100 historic shipwrecks identified at key global shipping route, many at risk By Andrea Margolis, Fox News Published May 4, 2026, 11:04 a.m. ET Originally Published by: Lightning strike turns 100-foot dinosaur into raging fireball Long-lost warship destroyed by iconic naval commander discovered centuries later Shakespeare's missing London home pinpointed after centuries-long mystery Over 100 historic shipwrecks have been uncovered at a strategic maritime gateway — and researchers warn they may be at risk of fading away. The vessels were found on the seafloor of the Bay of Gibraltar, part of the narrow waterway linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, by researchers with Project Herakles.
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