Exploration Unveiled: Colombia's Dive into a Centuries-Old Spanish Shipwreck Holding Untold Treasures
Colombia embarks on a thrilling underwater mission to investigate a historic Spanish vessel lost in the Caribbean over 300 years ago. Rumored to hold a fortune in valuable relics, the expedition sparks contentious debates over ownership rights.
Colombia is embarking on an exciting underwater expedition to investigate a Spanish warship that sank in the Caribbean over 300 years ago. This ship, known as the San José, is said to hold valuable artifacts worth billions of dollars.
Found by the Colombian government in 2015 near the port city of Cartagena, the San José has been dubbed the "holy grail of shipwrecks."
A scan of the Milwaukee.
A scan of the Milwaukee.
Michigan Shipwreck Research Association
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Researchers recently discovered a shipwreck in Lake Michigan from 1886, thanks to historical news accounts. The ship, a 62-gun, three-masted vessel, served as the flagship and largest galleon of a Spanish fleet. It was rumored to be carrying treasures such as gold, silver, and emeralds from the mines of Potosi, Peru. The ship sank on June 8, 1708, during a battle with British ships in the War of the Spanish Succession while en route from Panama to Colombia with an estimated 600 passengers on board.
The initial phase of the expedition will involve using remote sensors to capture images of the ship in a non-intrusive manner, according to the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH). This first step is crucial as it will lay the groundwork for future explorations, including the retrieval of archaeological artifacts from the sunken ship.
These images will be utilized to create a detailed inventory of the archaeological findings located on the ocean floor.
ICANH has designated the discovery site as a national "protected archaeological area" in order to maintain its scientific and archaeological importance.
Researchers intend to utilize an underwater vessel equipped with acoustic positioning technologies, along with a remote operation vehicle containing a variety of sensors and tools that can reach the depths of the site.
"This government is taking on a unique endeavor by investigating the sinking of a galleon to gain insight into history and culture," shared Culture Minister Juan David Correa during a press conference in Cartagena. The expedition was officially launched during the same event.
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San Jose Galleon called the Holy Grail of Shipwrecks
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Billion dollar legal battle over rights
The discovery of the San José has been a big deal for Colombia. The ship is filled with valuable cultural and historical artifacts that could give us insight into what Europe was like in the early 18th century.
However, this discovery has also led to a massive legal dispute that is worth billions of dollars.
Colombia says they found the San José in 2015 with the help of international scientists. However, a US-based marine salvaging company called Sea Search-Armada (SSA) disputes this. They claim they actually discovered the shipwreck in the early 1980s when they were known as Glocca Morra.
SSA is in a legal battle with the Colombian government in the Permanent Court of Arbitration. They believe they are owed around $10 billion, which is half of the treasure's estimated value. The Colombian government is disputing SSA's claims.
The loss of the San José and its cargo reportedly led to financial difficulties for merchants in Europe and the New World, as per SSA reports.
CNN’s Lauren Landrum was a contributor to this report.
Editor's P/S:
The discovery of the San José, a Spanish warship that sank over 300 years ago, has sparked excitement and intrigue. The ship's potential treasure trove of gold, silver, and emeralds has captured the imagination, making it a "holy grail" for archaeologists and historians. The upcoming expedition, led by the Colombian government, aims to capture non-intrusive images of the wreck and create an inventory of its contents. This meticulous approach will pave the way for future explorations and the possible retrieval of valuable artifacts.
The San José's discovery has also ignited a legal dispute between Colombia and Sea Search-Armada (SSA), a US-based salvaging company. SSA claims to have discovered the wreck in the 1980s and is seeking $10 billion in compensation. The Colombian government, however, maintains that they found the ship in 2015 and disputes SSA's claims. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities surrounding the ownership and rights to historical artifacts found in international waters, making the San José expedition not only an archaeological endeavor but also a matter of international law.
