Posted on 02/27/2007 2:24:07 PM PST by blam
Artifacts could be from early galleon
Mon Feb 26, 11:42 PM ET
MEXICO CITY - Archeologists said Monday that porcelain plates and other artifacts found along the Baja California coast could be from the wreckage of a Spanish galleon that sailed between the Philippines and Mexico hundreds of years ago.
Seals and other markings on some of the estimated 1,000 fragments of porcelain plates found at the site indicate they were made in China in the late 1500s, said archaeologist Luz Maria Mejia of the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
The site, near the port of Ensenada about 50 miles south of the U.S. border, is covered by shifting sand dunes that have kept artifacts like these hidden for centuries. Archeologists have been scouring the dunes for years to try to find relics from old Pacific trading ships.
While early Spanish galleons — which began sailing the Pacific trade route in the 1560s — usually headed for the port of Acapulco far to the south, it was common for some ships to land further north due to the winds. They would then hug the coast as they traveled south to Acapulco.
Researchers believe the artifacts may have reached shore following a shipwreck, although no sunken ships have been found off the coast.
GGG Ping>
It was a custom of Ensenada curio shops to sell 'antique' skeleton keys which were actually brand new keys rusted in jars of salt water. I guess someone found some real artifacts.
A decade or so back, there were a few stories cropping up about a Chinese settlement or two down on the Baja. Seems to be scarce news now.
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Another story I heard was that Drake robbed a galleon in the area, and was awash with the loot. He stashed the loot he couldn't carry, like china and silver somewhere on the California coast, and took only the most valuable stuff, like gold and jewels. Bits and pieces have been washing up for years.
This may interest you.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1794543/posts
Pirates....Arrrrgggghhhh!
This topic was posted , thanks again blam.
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