Miners excavating off the coast of Africa unexpectedly found a sunken shipwreck dating back 500 years, containing a treasure trove of £9million worth of gold and coins. The ship, known as the Bom Jesus or Good Jesus, was initially spotted by geologists from De Beers mining company near Oranjemund, Namibia in April 2008. Originally a Portuguese vessel led by Captain Sir Francisco de Noronha, it had embarked on a journey from Lisbon to India in 1533 but mysteriously disappeared with all hands on deck.
Back in April 2008, geologists from the mining company De Beers stumbled upon the treasure trove of the Bom Jesus, also known as Good Jesus, along the Namibian coast near Oranjemund. This discovery included various valuable items, including Spanish coins.
Unearthed by miners while draining a man-made salt water lake along the Skeleton Coast, a variety of intriguing artifacts were revealed. Among these items, a well-preserved astrolabe stood out in the center, accompanied by a frying pan on one side, pottery on another, a pewter plate above, and a section of a pewter bowl. This shipwreck, the oldest along the coast, was laden with treasures such as coins and ivory tusks, making it a remarkable discovery. Initially stumbling upon wooden and metallic fragments along the beach, the miners eventually uncovered the buried remains of the ancient vessel.
It took six days of searching before stumbling upon a valuable treasure chest brimming with gold. This incredible find has been hailed as one of the most important discoveries from a shipwreck, prompting the site to be designated under the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.
Among the valuable items uncovered from the Bom Jesus wreck were a set of rosary beads and a shiny silver coin from Portugal.
Dr. Dieter Noli, an archaeologist, showcased how an astrolabe discovered in the shipwreck was used. Among the items found in the Bom Jesus cargo were German copper ingots, West African ivory, various currencies from Portugal, Spain, Florence, and Venice, weaponry such as swords and knives, clothing, and even skeletons. In addition to this, bronze bowls and lengthy metal poles used in the ship’s cannons were unearthed by the miners, along with muskets, compasses, and celestial navigation instruments.
According to archaeologist Dr. Dieter Noli, the Namibian government will be retaining the gold discovered. Dr. Noli explained that usually when a ship is found on a beach, the government of that country gets to keep it. However, if it is a ship of a specific country, then that country has the right to claim it along with all its contents. In this particular situation, since the ship belonged to the King of Portugal, it was considered a ship of state, meaning Portugal could have claimed it. However, the Portuguese government decided to waive their rights, allowing Namibia to keep all the gold found on the ship.
A 16th-century Portuguese ship under the command of Sir Francisco de Noronha set sail from Lisbon in 1533 on a journey to India, but mysteriously disappeared along with its entire crew. Recently, a family in Florida stumbled upon a 300-year-old treasure.
