Galleon off the Coast of the Bahamas Yields Priceless Treasures

Treasures from the Maravillas. (Image: Bahamas Maritime Museum)

In 1656, an 891-ton Spanish galleon was tasked with carrying kingly riches across the Atlantic. The Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas (Our Woman of Miracles) was weighted down with more gold than usual, as it had taken on the valuable cargo of one more treasure-crammed ship that experienced sunk two a long time earlier. Sad to say, the giant vessel collided with one more member of its fleet and then hit a coral reef in the warm waters off the Bahamas and sank to the ocean ground. It took its treasure with it. A modern expedition by Allen Exploration, in partnership with local divers and researchers, has raised some of this wonderful treasure to the surface.

Underwater for more than 350 many years, the ship has been an object of salvage expeditions for hundreds of years. Hundreds of thousands of products have been eliminated. Having said that, this current expedition wanted not only treasure, but also insight into how the ship itself met its watery grave. With distant-sensing technological innovation these types of as sonar and magnetometers, the explorers identified a path of particles stretching about 8 miles of ocean floor. This debris illustrated the floundering of the ship in its closing hrs.

Amid the finds designed by the team were being glass wine bottles, a silver sword hilt, and other objects indicative of life on a warship in the 17th century. Even more breathtaking was the treasure: an nearly 6-foot-very long gold filigree chain, uncooked gemstones, and quite a few bejeweled pendants that after belonged to knights of the Get of Santiago. Just one pendant includes a breathtaking green Columbian emerald established in gold, surrounded by 12 other emeralds. This could signify the 12 apostles grouped close to the central motif, the cross of St. James.

“When we introduced up the oval emerald and gold pendant, my breath caught in my throat,” Carl Allen, founder of Allen Exploration, said. “How these small pendants survived in these severe waters, and how we managed to obtain them, is the wonder of the Maravillas.” Surely, the ship is residing up to its identify as a treasure trove of miracles. The jewels and other objects will go on screen at the new Bahamas Maritime Museum, while researchers continue on to probe what other miracles the wreck may keep.

A modern expedition by Allen Exploration in partnership with regional divers and researchers has raised some wonderful treasure to the surface.

Emerald cross pendant, belonging to a knight from the Get of Santiago, featuring a central cross of St. James. (Photo: Bahamas Maritime Museum)

The gold and jewels of the The Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas are a sight to behold, having sat underwater for over 250 years.

A glass wine bottle uncovered in the shipwreck. (Image: Bahamas Maritime Museum)

Artist’s rendering of the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, crafted in 1647. (Photo: Bahamas Maritime Museum)

h/t: [Art News, CNN]

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