Scientists recover cannon, coins, porcelain cup from 300-year-old Spanish shipwreck

Colombian scientists person recovered a cannon, 3 coins and a porcelain cupful from the Caribbean Sea

BOGOTA, Colombia -- A cannon, 3 coins and a porcelain cupful were among the archetypal objects Colombian scientists recovered from the depths of the Caribbean Sea wherever the mythical Spanish galleon San José sank successful 1708 aft being attacked by an English fleet, authorities said Thursday.

The betterment is portion of a technological probe that the authorities authorized past twelvemonth to survey the wreckage and the causes of the sinking. Colombian researchers located the galleon successful 2015, starring to ineligible and diplomatic disputes. Its nonstop determination is simply a authorities secret.

The vessel is believed to clasp 11 cardinal golden and metallic coins, emeralds and different precious cargo from Spanish-controlled colonies, which could beryllium worthy billions of dollars if ever recovered.

President Gustavo Petro's authorities has said that the intent of the deep-water expedition is probe and not the treasure’s seizure.

Colombia's civilization ministry said successful a connection Thursday that the cannon, coins and porcelain cupful volition acquisition a conservation process astatine a laboratory dedicated to the expedition.

The wreckage is 600 meters (almost 2,000 feet) heavy successful the sea.

The prevailing mentation has been that an detonation caused the 62-gun, three-masted galleon to descend aft being ambushed by an English squadron. But Colombia’s authorities has suggested that it could person sunk for different reasons, including harm to the hull.

The vessel has been the taxable of a ineligible conflict successful the United States, Colombia and Spain implicit who owns the rights to the sunken treasure.

Colombia is successful arbitration litigation with Sea Search Armada, a radical of American investors, for the economical rights of the San José. The steadfast claims $10 cardinal corresponding to what they presume is worthy 50% of the galleon treasure that they assertion to person discovered successful 1982.

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