The Artifacts of Playa de las Amoladeras

The archaeological site of Las Amoladeras is located in the municipality of Cartagena, Murcia, and its remains are preserved in the Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática (ARQVA). Located off Playa de las Amoladeras, a continuation of the levante beach of Cabo de Palos, the site contains various objects from the Roman era and contemporary periods under the sea. It has been designated as a Bien de Interés Cultural of the Region of Murcia since March 1, 2002.

About 200 meters from the shore, several objects from the Roman era were recovered, forming a first site. These include various lead manufactures, which some researchers interpret as the remains of a shipwreck transporting a cargo of metal objects. Among these findings are pipes matching the diameters of tubes used for water supply in ancient times, as well as projectiles, ship covering plates, and monetales with Iberian inscriptions. Non-metallic materials were also found, including fragments of amphorae and ceramics from the 1st century BCE.

A unique element among the finds is a small gold pendant, which is usually interpreted as an amulet or phallic idol, as it represents testicles and a vulva. Further south, about 500 meters from the Roman site, is another site containing contemporary materials from the 19th century. The objects from these sites are preserved in the Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática along with remains from other underwater sites such as Mazarrón, Bajo de la Campana, Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Escombreras, Pecio de Navidad, San Ferreol, Punta de Algas, and Pecio Cartagena I.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikimedia Commons