The vessel was first discovered on 3rd September, off the coast of the seaside resort of Cascais, on the outskirts of Lisbon. It is believed to have been returning from India to Lisbon with a cargo of spices in the late 16th or early 17th century.
Photo Credit: Augusto Salgado/Cascais City Hall/Handout via Reuters
Historical importance
As part of an offshore mapping project to compile an inventory of wrecks, the major archaeological project that began 10 years ago is jointly backed by the Portuguese navy, the municipal council of Cascais, the Portuguese government and Lisbon's Nova University.
Project director, Jorge Freire, has described the find as the "discovery of the decade" and Portugal's most important heritage find in history.
A team of divers explored the ship, resting 40 feet below the surface of the ocean, on 24th September. They found the cargo to be in relatively good condition, considering it had been lying on the ocean bed for 400 years.
Divers' discoveries
The shipwreck had occurred during Portugal's peak trading days with India, and the cargo included spices, including peppercorns, Chinese ceramics and cowry shells, which were used by slave traders in the colonial age.
Porcelain unearthed by the divers is believed to date from the era of China’s Wanli Emperor, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Emperor Zhu Yijun of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 19th July 1572 to 18th August 1620, which would confirm the date of the shipwreck.
The vessel also had nine bronze cannons carrying the Portuguese coat of arms, and bronze artillery pieces. Friere described the contents as "well preserved" and estimated the ship had been wrecked at some point between 1575 and 1625.
Shipwreck "hotspot"
Portugal's Minister of Culture, Luis Mendez, said the mouth of the Tagus River has always been considered a hotspot for shipwrecks and the latest discovery has further proved this.
The recent find follows the earlier discovery of the wreck of another Portuguese vessel, Our Lady of the Martyrs, near the military defence complex at Cascais, Fort of Sao Juliao da Barra, in 1994.
Archaeologists say the latest find is of great importance because it can help shed light on Portugal's trading past and establish the importance of Cascais on the spice trading route.
The port of Cascais is around 15 miles west of Lisbon and the site of the wreck spans 100 metres long and 50 metres wide. Although it seems astounding it has lain undiscovered for four centuries, the reason it has been found today is thanks to modern technology, including a geophysical survey.
Maritime heritage
Once the site had been noted, a team of experienced divers spent four days working underwater to painstakingly recover its treasures.
Freire, scientific director of the underwater archaeological survey, said the name of the ship was unknown, but a rough date had been put on its demise as a result of the Wanli period ceramics and the style of the coat of arms engraved on the cannons.
He believes it can tell us a great deal about the maritime history of Cascais and the port's cultural identity. He says it's a great discovery, thanks to its well-preserved artefacts, as it can tell today's local people more about their "cultural landscape" and heritage.
After the divers bring the artefacts to the surface, they will be carefully examined by the Portuguese directorate general for cultural heritage. The survey team has already noted that the latest shipwreck is in better condition structurally than earlier finds. The value of the cargo has yet to be estimated.
Thanks to its many fascinating shipwrecks, the coast of Portugal is a leading tourist attraction for divers and snorkellers. The latest find is sure to add to its appeal!
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