Colombian scientists have recovered a cannon, three coins and a porcelain cup from the San José, a Spanish galleon that sank in 1708 off the coast of Cartagena. The ship, often called the ‘holy grail of shipwrecks’, is believed to hold treasures worth billions of dollars, including gold and silver coins and emeralds.
The recovery is part of a scientific investigation authorised by the Colombian government last year. The wreck was located in 2015 at a depth of 600 metres, but its exact location remains a state secret. The government has stated that the expedition is for research purposes, not treasure seizure.
The San José was returning to Europe with riches to fund the War of the Spanish Succession when it was sunk by a British squadron. While the prevailing theory is that an explosion caused the sinking, Colombia’s government has suggested other possible causes, such as hull damage.
The recovered items will undergo conservation in a dedicated laboratory. The ship has been the subject of legal disputes in the US, Colombia and Spain over ownership rights. Colombia is also in arbitration with US investors Sea Search Armada, who claim $10 billion for what they say is a 50% share of the treasure they discovered in 1982.
