Paper short abstract:

Along the coastal zone of Esposende a huge quantity of artefacts remains (especially amphorae) was found, pointing to the existence of natural anchorage conditions of the area and its importance for Atlantic trade during the transition of 1st BC and AD millennia.

Paper long abstract:

During the transition from 1st BC to 1st AD millennia the Atlantic coastal landscape would be very different from nowadays. The Northwest coastline was characterized by headlands and small lagoons (or estuaries), protected by barriers located westwards and probably connected with the sea, at least intermittently. This is suggested by the characteristics of the sedimentary deposits outcropping on present beaches. The lagoons could have worked as natural anchorage places providing perfect conditions for sea-trade.

These geographical conditions would explain the large quantity of amphorae remains from Baetica dated from the 1st century AD, transported in boats that demanded that coast, and wrecked. The first shipwreck load, mainly composed of Haltern 70 amphorae, was discovered in Rio de Moinhos beach (Esposende), in 2005. We believe that this shipwreck occurred in the vicinity of a probable small anchorage place, located in the vicinity of the settling of S. Lourenço, Vila Chã, at the cliff top facing Esposende. In fact, N-S lined wood stakes discovered in the same beach a year before, are interpreted as remains of a palafitte quay. One of the stakes was radiocarbon dated of 1960±60 yr BP (2 sigma calibrated: 106 cal BC - 180 cal AD).

But there are more remains in another beach, north of Rio de Moinhos. Storms occurred from October 2013 till February 2014, exhumed more pieces, mostly composed by gaditan fish amphorae Dressel 7-11 dated from the mid-1st century AD, that are attributed to another shipwreck.