[ad_1]
New artefacts have been uncovered on the 18th Century Spanish galleon dubbed the “holy grail of shipwrecks” off the coast of Colombia.
The San José ship belonged to the Spanish Navy and was sunk by the British in 1708 because it was heading to Colombia’s port metropolis Cartagena loaded with tonnes of gold and silver cash.
The shipwreck was found at a secret location in 2015 however the first robotic exploration solely started in May 2024. It is estimated to be laden with as a lot as £16bn in treasure.
The researchers stated the newest haul is an “unprecedented set of archaeological evidence”.
Among the brand new finds are an anchor, glass bottles and a bedpan, in response to an announcement from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History.
The ship, whose possession stays contested, was carrying one of many largest quantities of valuables ever to have been misplaced at sea together with chests of emeralds and a few 200 tons of gold cash.
At the time, the vessel had been transporting its valuable cargo to the Spanish king to assist pay for his conflict towards the British.
Almost 600 crew members went down with it within the Caribbean Sea.
“Results of this exploration have revealed an unprecedented set of archaeological evidence, which has greatly expanded our knowledge,” the establishments in command of exploring the wreck stated in an announcement.
Alhena Caicedo, the director of the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, stated it included “a series of new materials that we hadn’t seen before”.
“Among other things, pieces of wood or parts of the ship’s hull, at least remnants indicating that there was wood there, and traces of possible anchors,” she stated.
“Other types of items found include nails, bottles, jars and some different materials like glass and ceramics.”
The Colombia President Gustavo Petro has made recovering the shipwreck a precedence earlier than his time period in cost ends in 2026.
But there’s an ongoing debate over who owns the treasure.
Spain claims the San José is a “ship of state” because it belonged to the Spanish navy when it was sunk and its contents are protected beneath a UN conference Colombia just isn’t social gathering to.
But indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians declare the riches had been stolen from them.
And US-based salvage firm Sea Search Armada has taken Colombia to the UN’s Permanent Court of Arbitration, searching for £7.8bn, over claims it first found the vessel greater than 40 years in the past.
[ad_2]
Source link
