Treasure of the Ages: The Rediscovery of the San José, a Sunken Ship Burdened with £16 Billion in Riches

Image Credits: Antiquity Journal/X
A recent publication by Antiquity Journal reveals that the wreck of the Spanish galleon San José, thought to be laden with treasure valued at around £16 billion, has been officially identified by researchers in colombia.

This historic ship sank in 1708 during a confrontation with the British Royal Navy and was located in 2015 near Baru Island, close to Cartagena. After extensive underwater investigations over several years, experts have now confirmed its identity as the fabled San José.

This revelation has sparked a complex legal battle involving multiple nations, indigenous groups, descendants of miners, and a private treasure hunting firm—all vying for rights to the sunken riches.The San José was part of Spain’s Tierra Firme fleet and was transporting an array of treasures including gold, silver, emeralds, jewelry, and even Chinese porcelain from South America back to King Philip V of Spain. These funds were crucial for supporting Spain during the War of Spanish Succession.

In June 1708,disaster struck when British forces led by Charles Wager intercepted the galleon near Cartagena.The ensuing battle resulted in an explosion that sent both the ship and nearly 600 crew members—only 11 survived—to their watery grave.

For over three centuries, this loss represented a important blow to Spain during a war that ultimately saw Britain gain control over territories like Gibraltar and Newfoundland.

Fast forward to 2015 when Colombian Navy divers utilized underwater drones to locate what they suspected might be the San José wreckage. Initial findings lacked conclusive evidence until recent research published in Antiquity provided clarity through high-resolution imaging techniques conducted between 2021 and 2023 at depths reaching about 600 meters below sea level.

among notable artifacts discovered were:

• Silver coins (cobs) minted in Lima back in 1707.
• Chinese porcelain dating from the Kangxi period (1662–1722).
• Cannons marked with an inscription from as early as 1665.

Researchers pieced together clues linking these artifacts directly back to San José. As a notable example, specific symbols on coins indicated their origin from Lima’s mint—a unique ‘L’ mark alongside other identifiers further solidified this connection.

Image Credits: Wikipedia
Colombia’s Navy employed advanced remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) for deep-sea exploration while archaeologists utilized cutting-edge technology like 3D imaging for detailed analysis of both ship structure and cargo layout.The coins found are known as “cobs” or “macuquinas,” which served as common currency across Latin America for more than two centuries; they typically measured around 32.5 mm wide and weighed approximately 27 grams each.

With confirmation now established regarding its identity comes fierce contention over ownership rights concerning this £16 billion treasure trove:

• Colombia asserts full ownership based on legislation enacted in 2020 granting state control over all submerged wrecks within its territorial waters.
• Spain contends that since it originated from a state vessel it rightfully belongs ther.
• Peru claims entitlement due to origins linked directly back home.
• Indigenous groups along with descendants of miners also assert ancestral claims on these riches.

Adding fuel to this already heated dispute is Glocca Morra—now operating under Sea Search Armada—which alleges it discovered this site way back in ’81; they’re demanding half of any potential bounty while contesting Colombia’s legal framework regarding maritime finds based on proximity arguments related their original search area.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro aims for recovery efforts before his term concludes in late ’26; however experts caution against any extraction until thorough examination is completed first!

At present though? The emphasis remains firmly placed upon meticulous exploration without disturbing anything just yet! Scholars believe uncovering secrets surrounding San José could provide invaluable insights into global trade dynamics along with colonial narratives prevalent throughout history circa early eighteenth century!

Reference: Cambridge University