A routine pipeline job under Dubrovnik’s old port has turned into an unexpected archaeological discovery: a wooden shipwreck buried beneath the seabed, dated to more than 200 years ago. The remains were found just a few feet below the surface during underwater construction work, and radiocarbon analysis later confirmed the vessel comes from the late 18th century. For now, researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what kind of ship it was.
The find happened in Dubrovnik, a coastal city on Croatia’s Adriatic coast that’s already famous for its medieval walls, UNESCO-listed Old Town, and dense maritime history. It was once a major trading hub in the Mediterranean, and even today its coastline continues to reveal traces of that past in surprising ways.
A Chance Discovery During Underwater Work
The shipwreck was uncovered by Ivan Bukelić while he was working on a water pipeline near the Old Town harbour. While digging beneath the seabed, he came across wooden remains buried in sediment about three feet down.
“I can now say I discovered a boat at the Old Town Dubrovnik,” Bukelić told the Associated Press, clearly surprised by the find. What he uncovered was not a mere fragment, but a structure large enough to indicate the presence of an entire vessel, much of which is still buried.
According to marine archaeologistIrena Radić Rossi, also speaking to the Associated Press, radiocarbon testing confirmed the wreck dates back to the late 1700s. That’s all that’s been confirmed so far. The type of ship, its size, and what it was used for are still unknown.
“We still cannot speak of the type of vessel or its dimensions but we can say for certain, based on the results of radiocarbon analysis that it was from late 18th century,” she explained.
For now, the site has been protected by Croatia’s Ministry of Culture. Researchers are keeping it stable while they plan a more detailed excavation, trying not to damage what’s left of the wooden structure.
Centuries Beneath Dubrovnik’s Sea
Dubrovnik isn’t new to historical surprises. The city grew into a powerful trading port from the 13th century onwards, building its wealth through maritime trade across the Mediterranean. That long shipping history means the waters around it are layered with centuries of activity.
Things changed a lot after the 1667 earthquake, which devastated much of the city. Even so, many of its historic buildings survived or were rebuilt, and today the Old Town is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. And more recently, the city also had to recover from damage during the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s. Since then, restoration work has helped bring much of the Old Town back to life, while still preserving its older architecture.
Alongside its historical importance, the city became even more visible in modern times after being used as a major filming location for Game of Thrones. Its stone walls and coastal scenery stood in for King’s Landing, drawing global attention to its already rich cultural landscape.
Underwater Europe Keeps Revealing Its Past
Dubrovnik isn’t the only place where the sea is giving up old secrets. In France, a sonar survey recently picked up a 16th-century shipwreck off the coast of Ramatuelle. As reported by Popular Mechanics, the wreck sits about 1.5 miles offshore at a depth of roughly 8,200 feet, making it the deepest shipwreck ever found in French waters.
That depth has actually helped preserve it. With no easy access for looters and less surface disturbance, the wreck has stayed relatively intact compared to many shallower finds.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, attention is still on the Spanish galleon San José, discovered off Colombia in 2015. Reports on the site suggest it may hold up to $17 billion in treasure in today’s value. Divers have even spotted gold coins on the seabed during certain explorations.
