The discovery of a ship with gold coins that vanished five centuries ago in a southwest African desert is one of the most exciting archaeological finds in recent years. On Friday, March 7, 1533, a Portuguese ship set sail from Lisbon. Its whereabouts remained unknown until 2008, when its remains were found near the coast in the Namibian desert during diamond mining operations. With the exception of a few scattered bone fragments, the condition of the ship at the time of discovery suggests that the storm which caused the disaster was extremely severe. However, the absence of human remains indicates that most of the crew either drowned at sea or managed to escape the wreck. „It gives a new meaning to the concept of a ship loaded with gold,“ Dr. Noli told News Com, Australia.
Further investigations revealed the presence of copper grenades, and it was eventually determined that the long metal rods were cannons.
Dr. Noli’s team discovered, in addition to a musket estimated to be at least 500 years old, metal fragments suggesting that a wreck was buried in the sand. They found cannons, swords, astrological instruments, a compass, and even a time capsule. Additionally, silver coins were uncovered. A long-lost ship full of gold was discovered in the desert. Based on the contents of the wreck, Dr. Noli and other experts reported that the ship had sailed from its home port of Lisbon, Portugal, around the southern tip of Africa en route to the West Indies.
Similar Portuguese ships with the same cargo often followed this route at that time. The Bom Jesus is now the most valuable and oldest shipwreck ever discovered off the west coast of Sub-Saharan Africa. The area where the ship was found was designated as a restricted zone because hundreds of German gold prospectors had traveled there in search of diamonds.
According to CNN, the site, the result of a joint effort between the Namibian government and the diamond company DeBeers, is still largely buried underground. Long-lost ship found in the desert, loaded with gold, 53% off. The remains of the wreck are currently protected by mine security and are accessible to only a limited number of people. There are considerations for a museum idea, but it is uncertain whether it will be implemented.
