The Villajoyosa City Council and the University of Alicante uncover new underwater archaeological site off the coast of Villajoyosa
Department: Historical Heritage

5 November 2025 | Villajoyosa

A joint team from the Municipal Arcante, Spainchaeology Service of the Department of Historical Heritage and the University of Alicante (UA) has identified a new underwater archaeological site in the waters off Villajoyosa

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The find comprises a shipment of construction bricks and several complete ceramic vessels, which initial analysis dates to the 19th century.

The discovery was made during a routine dive, as part of calibration work on research equipment undertaken by municipal and university underwater archaeologists.

The site has been formally reported to the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Valencian Community. Pending a more extensive underwater survey, experts have not yet confirmed whether the remains belong to a sunken ship with its full cargo or to materials lost during loading or unloading operations from a nearby vessel, according to the Vilamuseu (Villajoyosa Museum Service).

Until the 19th century, most Mediterranean ports — including Villajoyosa — lacked docks. A suitable beach, a source of fresh water, and a seabed of sand or Posidonia seagrass were all that was needed to form a functioning harbour. Ships typically anchored a few hundred metres offshore, and smaller boats transported passengers and goods between the shore and the anchored vessels.

This was how Villajoyosa’s port operated from the 7th century BC until 1940. With 2,700 years of uninterrupted maritime activity, it stands as one of the oldest continuously used ports in the Valencian Community — the first and last harbour on the Iberian Peninsula along the principal trade route between East and West. Researchers believe that the new site could provide valuable insights into coastal trade and maritime life during a pivotal period in the history of both Villajoyosa and Spain.

Under the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001), which Spain has ratified, any submerged cultural remains more than 100 years old are considered part of this shared heritage. This new site predates the six merchant ships sunk by the German submarine U-64 off Villajoyosa’s coast in 1917, during the First World War — all of which now form part of the town’s remarkable underwater cultural legacy.

The new discovery has been provisionally named “La Vila Joiosa I”, initiating a series of designations for future sites, ensuring that their titles do not reveal their exact locations for preservation purposes.

Councillor for Historical Heritage, Rosa Llorca, said:

“Villajoyosa possesses an extraordinary wealth of marine heritage that is gradually being revealed. This new site further enriches our historical and cultural landscape, standing alongside the Bou Ferrer shipwreck. Once excavation begins, we aim to replicate the successful public engagement model established with the Bou Ferrer project, bringing our underwater heritage even closer to residents and visitors alike.”