In April 2025, during maintenance work in the ancient port of Dubrovnik, Croatia, a shipwreck dating back to the 18th century was accidentally discovered. The wooden structure was found by Ivan Bukelic, a local diver and underwater builder, about 60 to 80 centimeters below the seabed.
Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was a crucial trading port in the Adriatic Sea during the Middle Ages. The city is a popular tourist destination, particularly in the summer, and is also known for being a filming location for HBO's "Game of Thrones".
The shipwreck has been secured for further examination. According to marine archaeologist Irena Radic Rossi, the goal is to continue research in collaboration with the Croatian Ministry of Culture. "We still cannot talk about the type of vessel or its dimensions, but we can say with certainty, based on the results of radiocarbon analysis, that it dates from the end of the 18th century," said Radic Rossi.
This discovery adds to other recent findings in the region. In July 2024, underwater archaeologists in Croatia found a 16th-century shipwreck near Cape Franina, which was carrying components of ten brass trumpets, ceramic vessels, and red glass bowls. The inscriptions on the instruments indicated that they came from Strasbourg, France, and Leiden, Netherlands, cities from which the trumpets had not previously been connected.
These discoveries offer a deeper insight into the maritime history of the region and highlight the importance of preserving and protecting these findings for future research.