Archaeologists have made a discovery in the middle of Barcelona, one of Spain's most renowned city. A 500-year-old ship was uncovered five metres below sea level, just a few metres away from Ciutadella Park. The wreck named 'Cituadella I' was discovered during excavations for the future research and innovation complex near the park. It is believed that the wreck would have sunk between the 15th and 16th centuries during a period of significant maritime transformation in Barcelona.

Measuring a huge ten metres long and three metres wide, the ship, already in a fragile state, has been partially covered to prevent the wood from degrading. Archaeologist Santiago Palacios described the find as "exceptional" before adding, "We don't come across ships of this size every day. Barcelona is a city of pure archaeology."

According to Europa Press, the ship likely sank between the 15th and 16 centuries at the site of the old Mercat de Peix (a fish market). Those who made the discovery confirmed that the ship arrived "where it was found", indicating that despite being a flooded area at the time, it did not sink there.

During that period, Barcelona also underwent a significant transformation due to the construction of its first artificial docks, which altered the coastline.

The mouth of the Besos River and storms were some of the factors that led to the quick advancement of the beach, which ended up covering what were once maritime spaces.

This is the second maritime vessel discovery in Barcelona, after 'Barceloneta I' was uncovered under similar conditions near Estacio de Franca in 2008.

Santiago Palacios, also noted that the finding of Ciutadella I, may not be the only discovery at this site as 15% of the excavation remains incomplete in the area which spans a huge 7,000 square metres.

The ship's material contained very fertile sands and mud, as well as organic remains such as hazelnut seeds and whole pine cones. Each part of the ship will be extracted and cleaned to remove the sand and microorganisms that could damage the wood.

While some information is already known, further study is necessary to find out the ship's origin, function, and exact construction date.