A Question of Marks: Timber Marks from the Ses Llumetes Shipwreck, 1st Century AD, Mallorca (Spain)

Abstract

This article presents the timber marks found on one of the Ses Llumetes shipwreck’s frames (1st century AD; Mallorca, Spain). From this find, a review over time of this type of archaeological evidence is developed, comparing the use, meaning and interpretations in the different comparative contexts found in the Mediterranean. Timber marks on vessels are particularly rare to find in underwater archaeological context, especially for the Roman Period. This makes the discovery of the Ses Llumetes shipwreck an important contribution to the existing examples. The location of a mark in a specific location in a vessel can mean that its interpretation can vary, and also shows relevant details about the people behind this action. In particular, the analysis of the tria nomina represented by the Ses Llumetes mark has proved to be especially important for investigating where the ship might have been built.