A treasure trove of gems, medals and historical artifacts has been found in the Bahamas that dates back to the 17th century shipwreck of the Maravillas – and will be on public view.
Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas (Our Lady of Wonders), a two-hull Spanish galleon, sank on Jan. 4, 1656, from Little Bahama Bank in the northern Bahamas on a voyage to Seville from Cuba.
He carried a large amount of royal tax and private property.
The 891-ton vessel went down after colliding with its flagship.
It struck a reef 30 minutes later – and eventually sank.
The remains of the ship were scattered for many miles in the ocean, and not much of the ship remained.
For more than 360 years, explorers and explorers have been trying to find the debris lost in the collapse.
And although most of the treasure – about 3.5 million pieces, from eight – was preserved between 1656 and the beginning of the 1990s, modern technologies such as high-quality magnetometers, improved GPS and metal detectors have enabled Allen Exploration to bring to the surface treasure beyond anyone’s imagination.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Allen Exploration, Carl Allen, said that he and his team began to pull up important material in July 2020 near Walker’s Cay.
Technological equipment, with the official permission given to them by the Bahamani government to search the North of the Bahamas – known as a disaster – has made for research “really amazing”, it said a businessman.
“We’ve recovered thousands of items,” he said.
“Cannons, anchors, emeralds and amethysts… About 3,000 silver coins and 25 gold coins,” he said.
The water in the area is only 50 feet deep, but the sand can bury treasures below 20 feet, he said.
But that didn’t stop Allen from proving his doubters wrong and finding treasures that took his breath away.
“When I pulled up the first highlight, I couldn’t breathe,” he said. “I couldn’t breathe.”
“I’ve been thinking about this all my life.”
Amazing finds include Spanish olive jars, Chinese porcelain and metal, according to an AllenX press release.
The team also found a silver sword of the soldier Don Martin de Aranda y Gusmán; the item that helped the teams discover these treasures that are in the sunken Maravillas.
Also recovered were four badges worn by members of the holy Order of Santiago, a religious order of soldiers working in Spain’s maritime trade. .
AllenX thought the Order of Santiago jewels were the “star” found so far.
One gold medal with the Cross of Santiago designed in the shape of a scallop shell.
It is powered by what appears to be an Indian bezoar stone – a popular European stone known for its healing properties.
Another gold medallion bears the same cross enclosing a large Columbian emerald.
Three gold chains were recovered, including an 887-gram gold filigree chain made of 80 circular links and decorated with four-lobed rosette motifs, apparently made in the Philippines, the statement said. the group.
AllenX pointed out that no exact replicas of the chain are available from other research in museum collections or as seen in Spanish art. .
Allen Exploration archeologist Jim Sinclair told Fox News Digital that these artifacts show how people lived in the colonial period and the New World.
As an archaeologist of 40 years, and as a first-time investigator of wrecks such as the Titanic, Sinclair said that the recovery like the Maravillas is reflecting an “amazing leap” in technology.
The archaeologist also considered the study of the material to be a “very good development” in terms of the study of human behavior and history.
Although the cost of these special items is likely to add up to a million dollars, the items are very expensive, said Bill Springer, Allen Exploration spokesperson.
Nothing Allen Exploration finds will be put up for auction or sale.
Instead, the finds will be part of an exhibit at Allen Exploration’s Bahamas Maritime Museum, located at the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Freeport.
The museum is set to open on Saturday, August 6, 2022.
It will feature other exhibits about the maritime history of the Bahamas, as well as the slave trade at sea with the Lucayan people.
Only 45 survivors
Maravillas’ show also tells the story of the shipwreck. Read also : ‘Oh, the Places You’ll (Almost) Go,’ courtesy of Google Arts and Culture.
Of the nearly 650 passengers on board, only 45 are known to have been saved.
No human body was found.
The shipwreck was “very dangerous,” said Allen, since Spain at that time was struggling financially and the ship was full of valuables.
It’s one of the largest ships to ever leave India – so Allen said he hopes more will be revealed.
The “mother lode” has not been found, he said; and when it does, he says the mine will be “very, very important.”
“It’s a common sight on these old ships, a lot of times – only half of what was on the ship because of a lot of stuff,” he said.
“So, that’s what makes it fun.”
Along with launching the museum, Allen is expanding his passion for discovery and education by developing underwater research programs for Bahamian children.
“The big problem is, [the waste] won’t stay there forever,” he said.
“And it’s a playground of shipwrecks.”
“So, I made a way for other people to do this – and I accept it.”
Allen Exploration’s Bahamas Maritime Museum in Freeport, Grand Bahama, opens on August 6, 2022. For more information, the museum’s website is http://www.bahamasmaritimemuseum.com.
