Miners searching for diamonds off the coast of Africa were surprised to find a 500-year-old shipwreck filled with gold and coins worth £9million. The ship, known as the Bom Jesus or Good Jesus, was found by geologists from the De Beers mining company near Oranjemund in Namibia in April 2008. The Portuguese ship had set sail from Lisbon in 1533 under the command of Sir Francisco de Noronha but mysteriously disappeared along with its crew during a journey to India.
Back in April 2008, geologists from De Beers stumbled upon the Bom Jesus – also known as Good Jesus – and its precious treasure trove while working along the Namibian coast near Oranjemund. Among the findings were various Spanish coins.
A variety of objects retrieved from the ship are shown with a trowel placed nearby to provide scale. Among the artifacts are a remarkably well-preserved astrolabe in the center, a frying pan to the right, some pottery to the left, a pewter plate above, and a segment of a pewter bowl. This discovery happened when miners were draining a man-made saltwater lake along the Skeleton Coast. While the coastline has yielded numerous shipwrecks over the years, this find was particularly significant as it was the oldest wreck loaded with valuable treasures such as coins and ivory tusks. Initially, the miners stumbled upon odd pieces of wood and metal scattered on the beach before uncovering the buried shipwreck.
It wasn’t until the sixth day that they stumbled upon a chest brimming with gold, marking a remarkable find in the realm of shipwrecks. The uncovering of this treasure vault resulted in the site being safeguarded under the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, solidifying its historical importance.
Among the treasure discovered on the Bom Jesus shipwreck were a set of rosary beads and a shiny silver Portuguese coin.
Archaeologist Dr. Dieter Noli showcased the functionality of an astrolabe recovered from the shipwreck of Bom Jesus. The cargo on board included a variety of valuable items such as German copper ingots, West African ivory, and currencies from Portugal, Spain, Florence, and Venice. Along with weapons like swords and knives, there were also clothing and human remains found. Additionally, the miners unearthed bronze bowls, lengthy metal poles used for the ship’s cannons, muskets, compasses, and astrological instruments.
According to archaeologist Dr. Dieter Noli in an interview with FoxNews.com, the Namibian government has been granted permission to keep the gold discovered. Dr. Noli explained that it is customary for the country where a ship is found on a beach to claim ownership. However, in the case of a ship of state, the country under whose flag the ship sailed typically takes possession. Since the ship belonged to the King of Portugal, it was considered a ship of state, meaning all its contents belonged to Portugal. Despite this, the Portuguese government generously chose to forego their rights, allowing Namibia to retain all the treasures found aboard the ship.
Imagine the appearance of the ship that disappeared in 1533. This vessel, a Portuguese ship under the command of Sir Francisco de Noronha, departed from Lisbon on a journey to India but mysteriously vanished, along with all its crew. Recently, a family in Florida uncovered a treasure that is over 300 years old.
