Colombia on Wednesday declared a “protected archaeological area” around the site where the legendary San Jose galleon sank off the Caribbean coast more than three centuries ago loaded with gold, silver and emeralds probably worth billions of dollars.
The designation, the Ministry of Culture said, “guarantees the protection of heritage” through the “long-term conservation of the ship and the development of research, conservation and appreciation activities.”
Called the “holy grail” of shipwrecksThe San Jose was owned by the Spanish crown when it was sunk by the British Navy off Cartagena in 1708. Only a handful of the 600-strong crew survived.
The galleon was on its way back from the New World to the court of King Philip V of Spain, carrying chests full of emeralds and some 200 tons of gold coins.
Samuel Scott
Before Colombia the discovery in 2015the ship had long been sought after by adventurers.
The value of the bounty is estimated at billions of dollars.
Culture Minister Juan David Correa emphasized on Wednesday: “This is not a treasure, we do not treat it as such.”
He announced the new designation of the area at an event that launched the first “non-intrusive” phase of a scientific exploration of the wreck.
In February, Correa told AFP that a underwater robot would be sent to regain some of his wealth.
Spain had laid claim to the ship and its contents under a UN treaty to which Colombia is not a party, while indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians claim the riches were stolen from them.
But President Gustavo Petro’s government has insisted on retrieving the wreckage for scientific and cultural purposes.
Spanish and Qhara Qhara delegations attended the event on Wednesday.
The wreckage is also claimed by US-based salvage company Sea Search Armada, which insists it first found it more than 40 years ago and has taken Colombia to the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration, demanding $10 billion dollars.
The exact location of the shipwreck is being kept secret to protect what is being contemplated one of the greatest archaeological finds in history against evil treasure hunters.
In June 2022, Colombia said a remotely piloted vehicle reached 900 meters below the surface of the ocean, demonstrating new images of the wreck.
The video showed the best view yet of the treasure found aboard the San Jose – including gold bars and coins, cannons made in Seville in 1655 and intact Chinese tableware.
At the time, Reuters reported that the remotely operated vehicle had also discovered two other shipwrecks in the area, including a schooner believed to be from about two centuries ago.
