Colombia strikes to guard “holy grail” of shipwrecks that sank over 3 centuries in the past with billions of {dollars} in treasure

Colombia on Wednesday declared a “protected archeological space” across the spot the place the legendary San Jose galleon sank off its Caribbean coast greater than three centuries in the past laden with gold, silver and emeralds believed to be value billions of {dollars}.

The designation, mentioned the tradition ministry, “ensures the safety of heritage” by way of the ship’s “long-term preservation and the event of analysis, conservation and valuation actions.”

Dubbed the “holy grail” of shipwrecks, the San Jose was owned by the Spanish crown when it was sunk by the British navy close to Cartagena in 1708. Solely a handful of its 600-strong crew survived.

The galleon had been heading again from the New World to the court docket of King Philip V of Spain, bearing chests of emeralds and a few 200 tons of gold cash.

Earlier than Colombia introduced the discovery in 2015, the ship had lengthy been sought by adventurers.

The worth of its bounty has been estimated to run into the billions of {dollars}.

Tradition Minister Juan David Correa insisted Wednesday: “This isn’t a treasure, we don’t deal with it as such.”

He introduced the world’s new designation at an occasion launching the primary “non-intrusive” part of a scientific exploration of the wreck.

In February,  Correa advised AFP that an underwater robotic could be despatched to get better a few of its bounty.

Spain had laid declare to the ship and its contents beneath a UN conference Colombia shouldn’t be occasion to, whereas Indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians declare the riches had been stolen from them.

However the authorities of President Gustavo Petro has insisted on elevating the wreck for functions of science and tradition.

Spanish and Qhara Qhara delegations had been current at Wednesday’s occasion.

The wreck can also be claimed by U.S.-based salvage firm Sea Search Armada — which insists it discovered it first greater than 40 years in the past and has taken Colombia to the U.N.’s Everlasting Courtroom of Arbitration, searching for $10 billion.

The precise location of the shipwreck is being stored secret to guard what is taken into account one of many best archaeological finds in historical past from malicious treasure hunters.

In June 2022, Colombia mentioned {that a} remotely operated car reached 900 meters beneath the floor of the ocean, displaying new photos of the wreckage.

The video confirmed the best-yet view of the treasure that was aboard the San Jose — together with gold ingots and cash, cannons made in Seville in 1655 and an intact Chinese language dinner service.

On the time, Reuters reported the remotely operated car additionally found two different shipwrecks within the space, together with a schooner regarded as from about two centuries in the past.