Posted on 12/01/2024 6:21:05 AM PST by SunkenCiv
The recently discovered shipwreck may have set sail as part of da Gama's final Indian Ocean voyage—a journey which he made a total of four times before his death 500 years ago. Researchers believe it may have been one of around 20 ships part of this excursion: the São Jorge, which was captained by Fernando de Monroy and sank in 1524, making it one of the earliest European shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean. Eight similar Portuguese shipwrecks of similar age have previously been discovered in the area.
The discovery of the Portuguese shipwreck was made in Malindi, Kenya, in 2013 by the underwater archaeologist at the National Museums of Kenya, Caesar Bita, after he was alerted to the presence of the ship by local fishermen. Bita discovered elephant tusks as well as copper ingots at the site of the wreckage in the 2010s... Future research is set to include archaeological surveys of over 15 miles of coral reefs running along the coast of the East African country...
Another possible identity for the ship was that it was a slightly later wreckage of the Portuguese ship the Nossa Senhora da Graça, which sank in 1544 and was not associated with da Gama who had died 20 years earlier.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.artnet.com ...
Final Voyage?
It was a Vasco-ectomy.....................
Hey, it was the “cross the Equator” party all rookie sailors are given, the whole crew was lit up, and they ran aground. :^)
“Vas go, DaGama!”..............
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