The first phase of recovering the legendary treasure Galleon San Josesunk in the Caribbean in Cartagena de Indias more than 300 years ago, was successfully completed. Objects of inestimable historical and economic value were thus brought to the surface. This discovery has been a fundamental milestone for Colombia ever since It is the first time that artifacts from this legendary ship have been recovered directly from the ocean floor. In this way, global interest in one of the most famous shipwrecks in maritime history was revived.
Experts estimate that the overall value of the loot could increase amount to about 17 billion dollarsa number that makes it one of the richest underwater finds known. The treasure includes an extensive collection of Gold and silver coins, jewelry and fine porcelain pieceswhich probably come from the Spanish colonies in South America. Among the items recovered stand out a huge cannon, whose presence evokes images of sea adventures, as well as macuquina coins, minted manually in Spanish America between the 16th and 18th centuries. Some of these coins have the letter “L” printed on them, indicating their origin in Lima, and other markings indicate that they were made in 1707, a year before the shipwreck.
The San José, a Spanish ship carrying around 200 tons of goods, was attacked and sunk by the British Royal Navy on June 8, 1708 as part of the War of the Spanish Succession. Its remains lay on the seabed for centuries, and although there were claims of its discovery as early as the 1980s, its exact location was only confirmed in 2015. The Colombian government, which kept the site secret to prevent looting, has been leading an ambitious research project since 2024 called “Towards the Heart of San José.” This program, intended to uncover the secrets of the ship, will be carried out near the coast of Cartagena.
In collaboration with scientists and marine archaeologists Remote-controlled submarines were used to dive into the depths and locate the first objects. These vehicles were key to the initial discovery of the gold coins and the subsequent recovery and analysis of the historical artifacts. Using a range of specialized techniques, these objects are examined to determine how and when they were made. The aim is to obtain detailed information about the technologies of the time and the exact maritime trade routes during the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
The comprehensive study of these elements will not only shed valuable light on the region’s commercial and cultural past, but could also provide crucial new perspectives the exact reasons for the sinking of the majestic galleon. Although it is known to have been raided by the British Navy, the exact method of its destruction remains controversial. One of the main theories posits that a cannonball directly hit the ship’s gunpowder supply, a hypothesis that, if confirmed by future research, would explain the speed and scale of the disaster.
Ownership of this vast treasure has been the subject of international disputes for years, with claims from the United States, Colombia, Spain and even Bolivia. However, the Colombian government’s current priority is to protect and promote this underwater cultural heritage.
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