Colombia begins exploring ‘holy grail of shipwrecks’
The Colombian government has begun exploring an 18th-century Spanish galleon, known as the “holy grail of shipwrecks.”
The South American nation has also established a protected archaeological zone around the San José galleon, which the British Royal Navy sunk in 1708 in the Caribbean Sea.
The ship, whose ownership is still disputed, was carrying one of the largest collections of valuables ever lost at sea when it was attacked near the Colombian city of Cartagena.
The treasure on board is estimated to be worth as much as £16 billion ($20 billion).
At the time, the vessel was transporting its precious cargo to the Spanish king to help finance his war against the British. Nearly 600 crew members perished with it.
The first stage of the research project – described as a “characterization phase” – will use remote sensors to generate images of the site to build an inventory of the archaeological material on the seabed.
Underwater robots will also take readings around the shipwreck, which will be used to inform academic studies, the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History said.
Subsequent phases will depend on what comes to light in this first phase of the project, it added.
