The San Jose is one of an estimated over 1000 galleons and merchant ships that sank along Colombia’s coral reefs during more than three centuries of colonial rule.
Advertisement
“It’s a scientific event that reminds us that Colombian history is constituted by events of very different eras protagonised by thousands of people who make up our national memory”, he said.
The Colombian government discovered the ship on November 27, saying they observed bonze cannons, drawers, ceramic and porcelain vases, and personal weapons, according to an announcement by Santos’ office.
Only a handful of the ship’s crew of 600 survived when the San Jose sank.
The ship, which sunk over 300 years ago, is said to be laden gold, silver, and precious stones.
“This has an enormous archaeological value for Colombia and for all of humanity”, Santos said, announcing that a museum will be built in Cartagena to showcase the discovery. Commodore Charles Wager, in command of four British ships including HMS Expedition, attacked the fleet off the island of Baru. Its cargo was to be shipped to Spain’s king to help finance the war against the British when it was sunk in June 1708.
Sea Search Armada, a group of USA investors engaged in marine salvaging, claims it found the site of the San Jose in 1981 and contends the Colombia government has been trying “to illegally confiscate SSA’s finds”.
In 2011 a US court declared the galleon property of the Colombian state.
SSA and the government were partners back then and adhering to global custom, they agreed to split any proceeds. The agency said the ship was found in a place “never before referred to by previous studies”, suggesting SSA had the wrong location.
Described as the holy grail of shipwrecks, treasure hunters had searched for the San Jose, for decades.
The San Jose was spotted by deep sea camera sent down by experts to examine the wreckage ahead of a planned salvage operation.
Advertisement
“I believe the ship’s side blew out, for she caused a sea that came in our ports”, he wrote.
