Cartagena, Spain 2008 Season

In 2008, Aurora returned to Cartagena to extend the survey area so as to include the large bay to the south of Cartagena harbour. The following points give an approximate boundary for the survey area:

North western corner: 37º 33.5200 N 001º 07.0313 W
South western corner: 37º 31.4000 N 001º 06.2402 W
South eastern corner: 37º 31.5560 N 000º 58.3425 W
North eastern corner: 37º 35.0664 N 001º 00.2700 W

Besides the survey and mapping of the new area of study, the objectives for the 2008 season also included extensive survey activities for the Roman shipwreck discovered in 2007.

Project Operations
In order to achieve the abovementioned objectives, the Trust deployed its Klein System 3000 side scan sonar with the newly fitted sub bottom profiler and the Klein System 3900 high resolution side scan sonar. All the equipment was deployed from the MV ISIS.

In the large survey area the fish was towed along a series of predetermined lines which ensured the methodical coverage of the entire seabed. A number of lines were run over the Roman shipwreck with the sub bottom so as to determine how much of the shipwreck was buried in the harbour mud. We also used the high resolution side sonar to obtain high quality sonar images of the shipwreck.

Finds
Contrary to the 2007 season, the area investigated in 2008 proved devoid of any cultural assets. The main reason behind this is the intensive trawling that has been carried out on some parts of the bay.

Marine Reserve
During the 2008 season, the Trust was asked to survey a number of artificial reefs present on a marine sanctuary just off the coast near Cartagena. All the artificial reefs were located and mapped.

Exploration
The Trust’s new Seaeye Falcon ROV was deployed to obtain high quality video footage and photographs of the Roman shipwreck. This year we were favoured with relatively good visibility which facilitated ROV operations. Hundreds of photographs were shot so as to acquire sufficient photographs to create photomosaics of this magnificent amphora shipwreck.