- Off the coast of Colombia, new shipwrecks are discovered near a vessel with missing treasure worth billions of dollars.
- The country’s navy is performing underwater surveillance missions on the San Jose galleon.
- Two additional historic shipwrecks were discovered nearby.
Off the coast of Colombia, new shipwrecks are discovered near a vessel with missing treasure worth billions of dollars.
The country’s navy is performing underwater surveillance missions on the San Jose galleon, but two additional historic shipwrecks were discovered nearby on Monday, according to the President.
New photographs indicate gold coins, vases, and tableware on board, leading some historians to assume the San Jose is transporting enormously valuable treasure.
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The ship sank in 1708 near the Caribbean city of Cartagena, and the possibility of recovering its cargo has sparked years of legal dispute.
The treasure, which also contains gold ingots, cannons built in Seville in 1655, and an unbroken Chinese dinner service, was discovered 900 meters below the surface by a remotely operated vehicle.
Officials added the inscriptions are helping archaeologists from the navy and government figure out where the plates came from.
The vehicle also uncovered two more adjacent wrecks: a colonial boat and a schooner, both of which are thought to date from around the same time as Colombia’s 200-year-old battle for independence from Spain. When the ships went down, it wasn’t immediately evident what they were carrying.
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The shipwrecks will be raised from the seabed and displayed in museums by local authorities.
President Ivan Duque confirmed the fresh discoveries, saying of the original ship, “The idea is to restore it and have sustainable financial methods for future extractions.”
‘In this way, the treasure, the inheritance of the San Jose galleon, is safeguarded.’
