In a statement, the municipality in the district of Braga says that the rescue operation took place on Monday and was carried out in the presence of divers, in the area of the Belinho shipwreck, “after several alerts to the Cultural Heritage Service of the municipality.”
“The archaeological work was carried out on an emergency basis, given the recurring alerts and the exceptional sea conditions, namely the weak swell. Indeed, during the monitoring and recording work, it was found that the two cannons had been displaced, being completely at the mercy of nature and/or illicit interests,” it adds.
The cannons were taken to the facilities of the Esposende municipality, in tanks built for this purpose in 2017.
Now, the conservation and investigation phase of the two pieces, “rare in Portuguese territory,” will follow.
“The recovery of this important cultural heritage will allow for its more detailed investigation and, eventually, bring new perspectives on the Belinho ship,” the statement emphasizes.
It also states that it will be “another element in enhancing the archaeological collection of the Esposende municipality, with a view to subsequent enjoyment by citizens, reinforcing the sharing of information and knowledge.”
