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Colombia Recovers First Artifacts From San José Galleon Shipwreck

Officials present the operation as a research effort centered on conservation.

Overview

  • Authorities displayed a cannon, three coins and a porcelain cup retrieved from the 1708 wreck near Cartagena on Thursday.
  • The recovery was conducted at roughly 600 meters depth using underwater robots, with the site’s coordinates kept secret.
  • The items have been moved to a dedicated laboratory for conservation and will support archaeological research, officials said.
  • Investigators also collected sediment and wreckage samples to examine competing theories about the cause of the sinking.
  • The work continues under unresolved ownership disputes, including a $10 billion arbitration by Sea Search Armada and claims from Spain and Indigenous groups.