Latest news with #DanielaVargasAriza
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
The Battle Over the World's Richest Shipwreck and its $16 Billion Treasure
Researchers have finally confirmed that a long-sunken hulk off the coast of Colombia is none other than the San José. The legendary Spanish galleon, which vanished beneath the waves of the Caribbean 300 years ago, has been dubbed the 'world's richest shipwreck.' Now the big question is, who does the treasure belong to? The San José was first launched in 1698 and was the flagship of the Spanish treasure fleet. In 1708, it was carrying gold and jewels from Peru to Spain that would help fund the War of Spanish Succession. As the ship approached Cartagena, Colombia, British naval forces attacked. During the melee, the gunpowder stores on the San José ignited, sinking the ship. Nearly 600 crew members perished as the ship went down with its vast cargo of gold, silver, emeralds, pearls, and other treasures. For centuries, the wreck remained lost beneath the sea. Two groups claim they discovered the famous shipwreck. U.S. salvage company Glocca Morra (now Sea Search Armada) insists that it first found the location of the ship in 1981. Then, in 2015, the Colombian navy, working with marine archaeologists, located the actual remains of the galleon using underwater drones. At a depth of around 600m, it is too deep for divers to access. This made it hard for researchers to confirm that it is definitely the San José. The Colombian navy has been using remotely operated vehicles to survey the wreck. The key to proving that it is the San José has been the gold coins scattered on the ocean floor. The lead author of a new study, Daniela Vargas Ariza, explained how these coins allow dating of the wreck and its demise through a process of elimination. These particular coins, known as "cobs," show mint marks from Lima, dated 1707. They also have castles, lions, Jerusalem crosses, and other Spanish imperial symbols imprinted on them. 'The finding of to a vessel navigating the Tierra Firme route in the early 18th century," said the paper. "The San José galleon is the only ship that matches these characteristics.' This Holy Grail of shipwrecks is now at the center of a legal battle. Colombia claims it is the sole owner of the wreck under its national heritage laws. They argue that as the ship lies within its territorial waters, it belongs to them. But others want to stake their claim over the ship and its $16 billion of treasure. Spain contends that the San José is a Spanish ship and so it is Spanish state property. Sea Search Armada says it was the first to identify the general location of the wreck in the 1980s and so should receive some of the compensation. Indigenous communities from countries like Peru and Bolivia are also asserting claims to the treasure since most of it was pillaged from them when they were under Spanish colonial rule. After hearings in Colombia and the U.S., the decision about who owns the most valuable shipwreck in the world will lie with the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The ‘Holy Grail of Shipwrecks' Is Still Underwater. So Is Its $17 Billion Fortune.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Considered the world's richest shipwreck, the San Jose was found off the coast of Colombia in 2015. New research into the gold coins now scattered on the ocean floor offered insights into the decorative pieces minted in Lima. Valued at a modern-day $17 billion, the San Jose's bounty is still untouched. Exploration of the San Jose shipwreck and the precious metal coins it scattered about 1,970 feet below the ocean's surface off the coast of Colombia confirmed it really was the richest shipwreck in the world. Considered the Holy Grail of all shipwrecks, the Spanish galleon San Jose blew up and sank in 1708 at the hands of British cannons, and it took with it what experts have estimated to be $17 billion in modern-day wealth, largely in the form of coins from 10 years of taxes saved up from the Americas. The shipwreck was first located in 2015. A new study published in the journal Antiquity showed how using remotely operated vehicles allowed researchers to get close to the underwater coins and confirm that the wreck found in 2015—which launched a custody battle between Colombia and Spain—really is the long-sought San Jose with an untold number of coins still on the seafloor. 'Among the key finds are hand-struck, irregularly shaped coins—known as cobs in English and macuquinas in Spanish—that served as the primary currency in the Americas for more than two centuries,' the study's lead author, Daniela Vargas Ariza, wrote about the coins often cut from gold or silver ingots. Ariza is a maritime archaeologist at Colombia's Almirante Padilla Naval Cadet School in Cartagena and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History in Bogota. The exact number of coins visible is difficult to determine due to the nature of the underwater site, but the cobs identified in high-resolution photos taken by the ROV show they have an average diameter of 1.3 inches and weigh 27 grams. At an estimated 200 tons of gold, silver, and uncut gemstones, that's a lot of wealth in the water. The photographs did help add some detail to what's known about the shipwreck's treasure. One side of the coins featured a Jerusalem Cross—a large cross with four smaller crosses—along with a shield featuring a castle and lions within a dotted border. On the flip side, the central design features the Pillars of Hercules above waves of the sea. The researchers said the design of the waves offers an identifying element for coins coming from the Lima Mint. Coins also feature marks of an assayer—an expert who tests metal purity—hammered on the edges. The researchers believe the evidence gleaned from the cobs help substantiate the long-held hypothesis that this wreck truly is the San Jose. 'This case study highlights the value of coins as key chronological markers in the identification of shipwrecks, particularly those from the Tierra Firme Fleet,' Ariza wrote. The sinking of the ship at this site must have occurred after 1707, the year the coins were minted. This, along with the presence of Chinese porcelain from the Kangzi period of 1662-1722 A.D. and the inscriptions on the cannon dating to 1665, suggest the ship sank in the early 18th century. The features on the coins also helped determine the route taken by the sunken vessel, including how the cobs were likely sourced from Peruvian mines (minting of gold coins began at the Lima Mint in 1696). There's also historical context important in identifying the wreck. In 1706, the Viceroy Marques de Castelldosrius arrived in Peru to reactivate the Portobello fair and send accumulated taxes of a decade to the Iberian Peninsula. In late 1707, Peruvian merchants and officials traveled to Puerto Perico on the Pacific coast of Panama, according to the study. There, they met the Tierra Firme Fleet, commanded by the galleon San Jose, which held the monopoly on transporting royal treasures between South America and the Iberian Peninsula. After the Portobello fair, the San Jose departed for Cartagena carrying goods and metals, including the cobs. 'The San Jose Galleon,' the authors wrote, 'is the only ship that matches these characteristics.' Cobs were the primary way the Spanish transported large volumes of wealth from the Americas to Europe, so these coin hoards likely formed part of the royal treasure dispatched from Peru by Castelldosrius. But when the fleet of 18 ships left Cartagena bound for Spain on June 8, 1708, it was attacked by five British warships during the War of the Spanish Succession. The cannon battle resulted in the exploding of San Jose's gunpowder stores, sinking the 150-foot-long ship. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
West Australian
a day ago
- General
- West Australian
San Jose galleon: Treasure hunters confirm Columbia location of fabled wreck with $30 billion cargo
Treasure hunters, historians and storytellers around the world are salivating, following the news that the location of a sunken wreck holding one of the greatest gold and jewel deposits in history has finally been confirmed. The legend of the Spanish galleon San Jose has been mentioned throughout history as countless groups of fortune hunters tried to locate the ship and its reported $30 billion golden cargo. Researchers using cutting-edge technology to comb the ocean floor in waters near Colombia have announced that they are confident they have confirmed the ship's location nearly 300 years after it sank during a fierce battle with the UK Royal Navy. Imagery obtained during the search for the 'Holy Grail' of treasure, identified coins and artifacts consistent with the cargo reportedly on board the San Jose before it met its fate at the bottom of the Caribbean sea. A recent study published in the Antiquity Journal announced that the wreck is situated at a depth of 600m on the ocean floor off Colombia. Since 2021, the Colombian Navy has been using a Lynx Saab Seaeye Remotely Operated Vehicle to locate the remains under conditions of low visibility and minimal light. The investigations have provided the strongest evidence yet that the wreckage discovered in 2015 is indeed the fabled vessel. Gold, silver and emeralds from Spain's South American colonies have been identified through high-resolution images captured while examining the wreck at the perilous depth. 'Hand-struck, irregularly shaped coins served as the primary currency in the Americas for more than two centuries,' archaeologist Daniela Vargas Ariza, of Colombia's Naval Cadet School and the National Institute of Anthropology and History told GBN . 'The finding of cobs created in 1707 at the Lima Mint points to a vessel navigating the Tierra Firme route in the early 18th century. The San Jose galleon is the only ship that matches these characteristics.' Countries in the region have been trying to lay claim to the treasure-laden wreck for years with Colombia, Spain and Peru all arguing the fortune should fall into their hands once it is raised. A treasure hunting firm from the US, Sea Search Armada, is demanding $13 billion, claiming it discovered the wreck in 1981 after stating the wreck lay within a few kilometres of the 2015 site. The company is contesting a 2020 Colombian law declaring everything aboard the galleon belongs to the Colombian government. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced in 2023 that the wreck would be raised before his term ends in 2026.
Perth Now
a day ago
- General
- Perth Now
‘Holy grail' shipwreck with $30b treasure on board found
Treasure hunters, historians and storytellers around the world are salivating, following the news that the location of a sunken wreck holding one of the greatest gold and jewel deposits in history has finally been confirmed. The legend of the Spanish galleon San Jose has been mentioned throughout history as countless groups of fortune hunters tried to locate the ship and its reported $30 billion golden cargo. Researchers using cutting-edge technology to comb the ocean floor in waters near Colombia have announced that they are confident they have confirmed the ship's location nearly 300 years after it sank during a fierce battle with the UK Royal Navy. Imagery obtained during the search for the 'Holy Grail' of treasure, identified coins and artifacts consistent with the cargo reportedly on board the San Jose before it met its fate at the bottom of the Caribbean sea. Coins were discovered and treasure hunters say they have discovered the G.O.A.T of all finds Credit: Facebook. A recent study published in the Antiquity Journal announced that the wreck is situated at a depth of 600m on the ocean floor off Colombia. Since 2021, the Colombian Navy has been using a Lynx Saab Seaeye Remotely Operated Vehicle to locate the remains under conditions of low visibility and minimal light. The investigations have provided the strongest evidence yet that the wreckage discovered in 2015 is indeed the fabled vessel. Gold, silver and emeralds from Spain's South American colonies have been identified through high-resolution images captured while examining the wreck at the perilous depth. 'Hand-struck, irregularly shaped coins served as the primary currency in the Americas for more than two centuries,' archaeologist Daniela Vargas Ariza, of Colombia's Naval Cadet School and the National Institute of Anthropology and History told GBN. The San Jose galleon sunk with a one of the largest fortunes in history on board. Credit: Facebook. 'The finding of cobs created in 1707 at the Lima Mint points to a vessel navigating the Tierra Firme route in the early 18th century. The San Jose galleon is the only ship that matches these characteristics.' Countries in the region have been trying to lay claim to the treasure-laden wreck for years with Colombia, Spain and Peru all arguing the fortune should fall into their hands once it is raised. A treasure hunting firm from the US, Sea Search Armada, is demanding $13 billion, claiming it discovered the wreck in 1981 after stating the wreck lay within a few kilometres of the 2015 site. The company is contesting a 2020 Colombian law declaring everything aboard the galleon belongs to the Colombian government. Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced in 2023 that the wreck would be raised before his term ends in 2026.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
New images reveal treasures aboard ‘holy grail' shipwreck
Coins known as cobs in the San José galleon shipwreck in the Colombian Caribbean. (Daniela Vargas Ariza, Antonio Jaramillo Arango, Jesús Alberto Aldana Mendoza, Carlos Del Cairo Hurtado, Juan David Sarmiento Rodriguez/ARC-DIMAR 2022 via CNN Newsource) New research revealing details of gold coins found aboard a shipwreck off Colombia provides further evidence that the vessel was the San José galleon, a 300-year-old Spanish warship believed to contain artifacts worth billions of dollars. Scientists used an unmanned underwater vehicle to survey the wreck and captured images of some of its cargo, according to a study published in the journal Antiquity on Tuesday. They then used photogrammetry to make three-dimensional reconstructions of the coins, revealing a Jerusalem cross and heraldic symbols of the crowns of the Spanish monarchs of Castile and León. They also uncovered symbols showing that the coins were minted in Lima, Peru, in 1707, proving the shipwreck occurred after that date. Historical records show that the San José was part of a shipping fleet known as the Flota de Tierra Firme. It was one of a number of ships in the fleet that left Peru in 1707 carrying a large amount of royal cargo, but records show that it never reached Spain, instead sinking off Colombia following a battle with British forces in 1708. Researchers say the coins strengthen the case that this is indeed the San José, often called the 'holy grail of shipwrecks.' 'Hand-struck, irregularly shaped coins — known as cobs in English and macuquinas in Spanish — served as the primary currency in the Americas for more than two centuries,' lead researcher Daniela Vargas Ariza from Colombia's national history and anthropology institute (ICANH) said in a statement published Tuesday. 'The Tierra Firme Fleet, commanded by the San José Galleon, held the exclusive monopoly on transporting royal treasures between South America and the Iberian Peninsula,' she said. 'This find presents a rare opportunity to explore an underwater archaeological site and deepen our understanding of eighteenth-century maritime trade and routes,' said Vargas Ariza. Study author Jesús Alberto Aldana Mendoza, an archaeologist specializing in underwater cultural heritage, told CNN that it was 'very surprising to find them during our research and to be able to analyze them so closely.' The project 'has been able to study the artifacts from the site like never before, as it has managed to link archaeological material with historical documents,' he added. Since it sank, the ship has lain undisturbed off the coast of the Caribbean port city of Cartagena, despite the historical significance of the artifacts contained in it, which are worth an estimated $17 billion, due to an ongoing multi-billion-dollar legal battle. While the Colombian government maintains that it first discovered the San José in 2015 with help from international scientists, its claims have been disputed by a US-based marine salvage company named Sea Search-Armada (SSA), formerly known as Glocca Morra, which argues that it discovered the shipwreck in the early 1980s. SSA has launched a legal battle against the Colombian government in the international Permanent Court of Arbitration, claiming it is entitled to approximately $10 billion — half the estimated value of the shipwreck's treasure. The Colombian government disputes SSA's claims.
