A sunken 18th century Spanish galleon is legendary for its cache of 11 million gold and silver coins that’s price an estimated $20bn (£16bn) — earning it the title of the ‘holy grail of shipwrecks’. The San José was sunk by the British in 1708 near Cartagena, Colombia. Now, a Colombian mission to salvage the wreck has retrieved its first artifacts. (Picture: Reuters/Colombian Government TV)
What was San José?
The San José was a Spanish ship that was carrying at the very least 200 tonnes of gold, silver, gems, jewellery and other treasures collected in Spain’s South American colonies that were being shipped to King Philip V to finance his war of succession against the British. On the time, Spain and Britain were fighting the War of the Spanish Succession The treasure went down with the ship and only 11 of its 600 sailors survived. Nevertheless, there was a protracted custody battle over the ship between the Spanish and Colombian government, in addition to the US, over who has the rights to the loot. (Picture: Reuters/Colombian Government TV)
So, what got here from the wreck?
The thought is to look at the wreck in stages. The primary phase of the research project was a study of the distribution of objects and the stays of the ship’s structure on the seabed, while leaving it undisturbed by human activity. Then the following step seeks to delve deeper and conduct a direct evaluation of the archaeological objects, which can hopefully allow stabilisation of the findings in order that they can adapt to the change when leaving the water. (Picture: Reuters/Colombian Government TV)
The precise location of the ship is a state secret, but divers recovered a cannon, three macuquinas (coins), and two fragments of porcelain. They can be used to conduct archaeological studies that can help researchers answer questions related to the research project, akin to origin, chronology and production technologies, in a move Colombia’s culture ministry said is devoted to the expedition. (Picture: Reuters/Colombian Government TV)
The Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History said: ‘Each of the archaeological objects collected from the shipwreck opens up the probabilities of discovering more facets of the history of the San José galleon. The direct study of the macuquinas, the porcelain cups, the cannon and the sediment stays related to these objects will allow us to delve deeper into facets of the investigation.’ (Picture: Reuters/Colombian Government TV)
Yannai Kadamani Fonrodona, Minister of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge, said: ‘This historic event demonstrates the strengthening of the Colombian State’s technical, skilled, and technological capabilities to guard and promote underwater cultural heritage, as a part of Colombian identity and history.’ (Picture: Reuters/Colombian Government TV)
The Colombian government can be investigating the explanation for the ship’s sinking, and has suggested it could have sunk for reasons aside from an explosion, including damage to the hull. The team can be analysing fragments of wood, rope, and sediment from the cannon in hopes to learn more about how and why the San José galleon sank as its demise has never been proven with physical evidence. (Picture: Reuters/Colombian Government TV)
News Updates
Stay on top of the headlines with day by day email updates.