New details of life emerge from the 5,600-year-old submerged bridge in Mallorca, Spain, as geologists study it.

The University of South Florida conducted a study that revealed new information about the colonization of Mallorca, Spain.

In 2000, Dr. Bogdan Onac, a geology professor at the University of South Florida, discovered an underwater bridge inside Genovesa Cave, as stated in an email to Planet Chronicle Digital.

A new study has dated the ancient limestone bridge back even further than previously estimated, primarily based on pottery found near the bridge's creation.

The bridge that was submerged for 25 feet was studied by a research team and the results were published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment on Aug. 30, 2024.

A recent study has revealed that the bridge on Mallorca was constructed approximately 6,000 years ago, suggesting that human existence on the island predates previously believed estimates.

"Our research estimates that humans likely arrived on Mallorca 2,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to Onac, who shared this information with Planet Chronicle Digital. This discovery has narrowed the gap between the colonization timelines of islands in the eastern and western Mediterranean."

Researchers examined "mineral overgrowth on preexisting stalactites near the bridge" and "analyzed the elevation of a coloration band" on the bridge's upper section to determine its age.

Mineral samples were collected by divers who descended approximately five meters beneath the water's surface.

According to both indicators, these features were formed during a period of sea-level stillness and stand between 5,800 and 5,500 years ago. This suggests that the bridge must have been constructed before this time frame, but not after 5,600 years ago, as the sea level would have already risen above the bridge by then, as Onac told Planet Chronicle Digital.

The underwater state of the stone bridge raises concerns about its conservation.

The preservation of the stone bridge was aided by its being submerged in water. If it had been above water, it would have interacted with various elements that could have hindered its conservation.

Onac stated that the submersion of the stone bridge aided in its preservation.

"The flooding of the bridge, constructed from large limestone blocks sourced from cave breakdowns, served as a protective measure. If exposed, especially with the impact of mass tourism in Mallorca, its fate could have been different. However, fortunately, water does not damage limestone, so the bridge remains well-preserved in its submerged state."