Marine archaeologists utilizing advanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have identified the extensive submerged remains of a 4th-century Roman naval arsenal off the coast of modern-day Tangier, Morocco. The site includes monumental stone foundations for slipways, timber storage units, and a massive breakwater designed to protect military galleys from Atlantic swells. This discovery confirms the strategic importance of the Strait of Gibraltar during the late Roman Empire's efforts to secure maritime supply routes against rising piracy.
The survey also revealed a series of intact lead anchors and a localized debris field containing iron-riveting tools and high-quality Roman nails, suggesting an active ship-repair facility. Researchers from the University of Tangier and international partners noted that the architectural layout mirrors naval structures previously only seen in the central Mediterranean, indicating a standardized military construction protocol that extended to the empire’s westernmost frontiers.