Colombian naval officials have discovered two historical shipwrecks while monitoring the ruins of a Spanish ship that sank near Cartagena, Colombia, more than 300 years ago.
Wreckage of a colonial boat and a schooner believed to be 200 years old were spotted as officials captured new footage of the San Jose galleon, which has been described as the “holy grail” of shipwrecks, as reported by the Washington Post.
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The San Jose galleon, belonging to King Philip V of Spain, is thought to have been carrying a treasure trove of gold, silver, and emeralds now worth up to $17 billion when it sank in 1708 during a battle with British ships in the War of the Spanish Succession.
New footage of the wreckage captured by a remote-operated vehicle shows images of gold coins, cannons, and intact porcelain cups scattered along the sea floor.
¡Qué orgullo! Expedición no intrusiva de @ArmadaColombia en el Galeón San José permitió hallazgo de 2 naufragios.
Esta es una demostración más del trabajo de nuestros hombres y mujeres de Armada, siempre protegiendo los intereses marítimos de la Nación y la soberanía del país. pic.twitter.com/vfjf83sF4W
— Diego Molano Aponte (@Diego_Molano) June 7, 2022
The owner of the shipwreck’s contents has been in dispute with Colombia, Spain, an American company, and a Bolivian indigenous group, all claiming to have stakes in the treasure.
Spain argued the ship belonged to the Spanish navy when it sank and should be protected by United Nations regulations. Meanwhile, Colombia has argued it has ownership of the wreck, citing a law passed in 2013 that says ships sunk in its waters would be considered national heritage. The Colombian government has announced plans to build a museum and conservation laboratory dedicated to the ship’s contents.
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The location of the San Jose galleon was a mystery for many years before explorers found it in November 2015.
