Project Herakles documented 134 shipwrecks in the Bay of Gibraltar spanning fifth century BC to WWII across Punic, Roman, medieval, and early modern eras.
Key Takeaways
University of Cádiz three-year survey identified 151 archaeological sites; 34 wrecks fully documented so far, including 23 Roman ships and a fifth-century BC Punic vessel.
Puente Mayorga IV wreck reveals guerrilla naval tactics: late 18th-century Spanish gunboats disguised as fishing vessels then attacked British ships of the line with prow-mounted cannon.
Three medieval vessels may illuminate late Islamic-era Iberian seafaring, a period with little prior underwater archaeological record.
Sites face active threats from port dredging, dock construction, rising sea levels, and an invasive algae overgrowing rock and wreck surfaces.
Team built VR walkthroughs and 360-degree underwater video for public engagement at local museums, allowing dryland access without diving.
