One morning in August 2019, two Ibiza residents, Manel Guasch and Guillermo de Barnola, sailed to the neighbouring island of Formentera on their boat to spend the day there. When they were approaching the pier of Calo de San Agustí on the dinghy, they dropped a plug.

Guillermo threw himself into the water to recover it and instead he found an 18th century sabre, which was in perfect condition. He instantly reported it to the authorities, and they notified the Formentera Island Council, who took action immediately.

An IBEAM team carried out an archaeological survey of the area, locating and extracting one of the most surprising archaeological sites in recent years. The 18 sabres that have been identified as a piece of armament used by the French troops line cavalry (cuirassiers) between 1805 and 1855.

These pieces are currently in the Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera where they are being treated by specialists.