August M
Archaeologists in Colombia have recovered the first artifacts from the San José galleon — a shipwreck long hailed as the “Holy Grail” of the seas — reigniting a centuries-old dispute over ownership of a treasure believed to be worth billions.
A Colombian research team announced that early excavations at the site of the San José have yielded their first items: a porcelain cup, three coins and a remarkably preserved bronze cannon.
According to The Express, the discovery marks the first tangible evidence recovered from the wreck since its modern-era identification in 2015.
Remarkable find
The San José sank in 1708 during a British assault, plunging nearly 2,000 feet to the Caribbean seabed. Historians believe the vessel carried up to 11 million gold and silver coins, vast quantities of emeralds and other royal cargo intended for King Philip V of Spain.
Estimates place the total value at around $20 billion, making it the most lucrative shipwreck ever found, Reuters reports.
Disputed treasure
The site has been the focus of international legal wrangling for decades. Spain asserts historical ownership of the galleon and its contents, while Colombia maintains territorial rights.
An American investment group, Sea Search Armada, also claims it first identified the wreck’s location in 1982 and has pursued the matter in court, Sky News notes.
Because of these disputes, the exact coordinates of the galleon remain a Colombian state secret. Officials say the ongoing mission is strictly scientific, aiming to study — not salvage — the wreck.
Tragedy at sea
The warship met its fate after a confrontation with an English squadron led by Charles Wager, who would later become First Lord of the Admiralty.
Contemporary accounts suggest the San José’s gunpowder stores detonated during the attack, although Colombian authorities have raised the possibility of structural damage playing a role.
The Express reports that more than 600 sailors were aboard, and only 11 survived.
Early artifacts hint at greater discoveries
Colombia’s culture ministry says the objects recovered so far represent only a tiny fraction of what lies below.
Still, researchers describe the find as a major milestone in one of the most contested and celebrated maritime mysteries in history — a shipwreck whose legendary status continues to grow as new pieces emerge from the deep.
Sources: Skynews-Reuters
