It has a name that fuels fantasies. “ZI 24” for “prohibited zone 24”. A sensitive nuclear site? No way. A secret military defense site? Always not. A land to welcome aliens? Um, no, really not. The famous ZI 24 is an area located very close to the Rance tidal power plant, between Dinard and Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine). Here, navigation is prohibited, as is diving, due to the danger posed by the powerful turbines producing 7% of the electricity consumed in Brittany. However, it happens that some venture into the area, but within a very strict regulatory framework: “forty to fifty minutes of diving per day, no more. »
“We don’t have all the answers about this wreck”
Yann Gaonac’h is a member of Adramar, an association for the development of research in maritime archaeology. For years, he and the members of the association have been active around this famous forbidden zone. Their objective ? Unravel the mystery of a wreck that has been sunk there for centuries and has never been identified. They have just published a book (for pre-order via this link) explaining why they continue to dive into this sector and why they will continue to do so in the years to come. “The area is not easy but we are stubborn. Because we don’t have all the answers about this wreck, even though it has real historical interest. It is well preserved and is undoubtedly one of the oldest in the bay of Saint-Malo,” explains Yann Gaonac’h.
After exploration campaigns carried out in 2021 and 2022, Adramar was able to determine that the mysterious ship was made with wood that had been cut in 1663 and 1665. Despite this discovery, archaeologists have still not found the name of this wreck. “We really thought it was the Caesar but it was built in 1681. That seems very far from the date the wood was cut. At the time, we didn’t keep wood that long,” notes Yann Gaonac’h.
A story that fascinates children
The archaeologist has been working for several years to tell this story to children in schools in the area. Seeing their interest in the subject, his association decided to make a very educational book showing all the facets of his explorations. “They always ask us about any treasure on board or about the weapons. We feel a real curiosity. »
Children are not the only ones. Among the ranks of historians and heritage enthusiasts, we also wonder about this curious boat. Because beyond its simple identity, it is also the use of the ship which questions Breton specialists.
Equipped with a solid structure rather rare at that time, the wooden boat also supported 11 cannons. A deterrent system to protect against the English? “It is not known whether it was an artillery transport, a means of defense or a simple use as scrap to ballast the ship. We are still looking for clues,” explained recently to 20 minutes specialist Anne Hoyau-Berry during a previous campaign.
New dives have already been announced for the year 2025. With the hope of finally putting a name on this mysterious wreck.