A recent archaeological discovery in Mallorca’s Genovesa Cave is changing our understanding of the ancient history of the Mediterranean. During a routine dive, researchers stumbled upon something extraordinary: a submerged stone bridge, built by human hands more than 5600 years ago. A fascinating discovery, with significant implications for our understanding of ancient human migrations and settlements.
A dive into the past, literally
Imagine being a archaeologist underwater. You spend your days swimming in dark caves, hoping to find something interesting. Usually, you come across rocks… and more rocks. But then, one day, your flashlight illuminates something that shouldn't be there: a bridge. Underwater. In a cave. And not just any submerged bridge, but one built when the pharaohs were still a distant idea.
This 7,5-foot-long submerged bridge isn't just a bunch of randomly placed stones. It's a well-designed structure, built by stacking large blocks of limestone and placing huge flat boulders on top. Bogdan Onac, the University of South Florida geology professor who led the study (I link it here) must have jumped for joy when he understood the importance of this discovery.
Mallorca: the island that wasn't there (but was)
Until now, archaeologists thought that Mallorca was colonized much later than other Mediterranean islands. This discovery changes everything: not only does it prove that there were people on the island 5600 years ago, but that these people were organized and ingenious enough to build bridges. Hats off, ancestors.
Now, you may be wondering: how can they be so sure about the age of this bridge? The researchers estimated the age of pottery from the Naviform period (3550-3000 years ago) found in the same cave: the submerged bridge was already there when that pottery was abandoned, and not a little while ago.
In fact, there is a light-colored band on the submerged bridge that allowed researchers to “match” its construction with the period in which the sea level stabilized in the area, between 5964 and 5359 years ago. It is as if the bridge had a label that tells us when it was built.
Why build a submerged bridge in a cave?
This is the million dollar (or drachma, considering the era) question. Onac admits that the exact reasons remain a mystery. Perhaps it was a way to access freshwater resources. What is certain is that this discovery shows us how sophisticated and organized these early settlers were.
How many other ancient structures could be hidden in the depths of the sea? The submerged bridge of Mallorca is not just a stone structure. It is a bridge that connects our present to the past, challenging our knowledge and encouraging us to explore even further.
