Thanks Theoria. Columbia has found the way to San Jose, la la la la la la la la la.
Posted on 12/05/2015 3:56:47 PM PST by Theoria
Spanish galleon San Jose sank more than 300 years ago in battle with British, while carrying vast cargo of gold and precious stones
Colombia’s discovery of the 300-year-old, shipwrecked galleon San Jose, thought to be loaded with some $10 billion in gold and precious stones, could shed light on an important period in Spanish colonial history but also spawn legal battles over the valuable cargo.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said his country spent two years studying historical maps, meteorology and used the latest sea-searching technology to locate the Spanish vessel, which sank during a battle in 1708 in the country’s temperate Caribbean waters.
Mr. Santos briefly announced the discovery on Friday and elaborated on the find on Saturday.
The San Jose was long considered by many historians and treasure-seekers as the Holy Grail of shipwrecks.
“We have made every effort to recognize this national heritage for the benefit of all Colombians and for humanity,†President Santos said, adding that the country will build a museum in the coastal city of Cartagena to showcase the recovered artifacts.
The San Jose sank to its watery grave after setting sail from Cartagena toward Panama, loaded with an estimated 11 million gold coins and 600 people. It was attacked by British boats as Britain battled Spain in the War of Succession and went down in flames near the small Rosario Islands archipelago.
“This discovery can help with understanding a period when Spanish hegemony of the new world was really being challenged, how the people aboard the ship lived and the decisions they made, all told by its humble material remains,†said Justin Leidwanger, an assistant professor at Stanford University’s Archaeology Center and an expert in historic maritime networks.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Bahog, treasure, ping.
Not much of a legal battle as the wreck was found by Colombia by Colombia.
Hmmm. I’m thinkin’ anyone of millions of descendants with an ounce of Aztec or Inca or Mayan genetics could stand a pretty good chance in the world court. World court?! LOLOLOLOL!
Thanks Theoria. Columbia has found the way to San Jose, la la la la la la la la la.
Wait...the wonderful discovery of this Spanish Treasure ship is going fill the huge, cavernous, abyss of Spanish colonialism in South American history?
I mean like all the books, diaries, letters from Cartagena’s founding date 1533 were aboard that one ship?
What are the odds? ;>)
On a serious note, that was one huge vessel for its time, 600 people, a huge and heavy cargo of gold plus cannon. Would have loved to make that discovery dive.
Maybe they’ll find all those missing Mayan manuscripts.
You may be a bit ignorant about the historical laws of the sea as applied the last 70 years or so.
As I recall, the country whose flag was flying when the ship went down has a claim on the cargo.
Dang! I was wondering what happened to those 11 million gold coins the Secret Service guys used to buy Colombian hookers!
600 people on a 300ton ship, oof...
The people who lived there in the area my wife is from were the Muisca - Chibcha people in the area of Bogota, then part of Nueva Granada during the time of the conquistadors through to their independence.
There were many coastal tribes but the Muisca tribes were very wealthy having established a strong economic bond with surrounding tribes trading salt of all things.
They survived the conquest and slaughter by either hiding or intermarriage and acclimation to Spanish culture. Make no mistake that Spanish colonial practices were anything less than brutal. The Spanish had only just freed themselves from the muslim conquerors in 1492. They carried those brutal lessons to the new world.
Many women in Bogota who exhibit genetic traits of the indigenous tribes likely share some heritage with the indigenous people. They are truly a beautiful people. I’ve visited some 20 cities in the area, it’s a simply fascinating country and the women... :)
I probably enjoy history a little too much, excuse my blather.
Thanks.
its not a treasure find until they bring up some treasure and take a pic. :-)
On a serious note, that was one huge vessel for its time, 600 people, a huge and heavy cargo of gold plus cannon.
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Yep, it would take a huge ship to carry that many people, cannon and gold... plus, food and water for the people!
I’m not buying the tale. Ships back then didn’t carry that many people.
“I probably enjoy history a little too much”
Isn’t that one of those things, like “too much lobster,” that one hears of but never sees?
Do you know of a history of that period that one can read without being deafened by the sound of axes grinding?
Lol...well stated!
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