Colombian Authorities Recover First Artifacts From Legendary 1708 “San José” Shipwreck

TDT | Manama

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Colombian authorities announced that scientists have recovered a cannon, three coins, and a porcelain cup—the first artifacts retrieved from the depths of the Caribbean Sea where the legendary Spanish galleon San José sank in 1708 after an attack by a British fleet.

The recovery is part of a scientific survey approved by the government last year to study the shipwreck and understand the circumstances surrounding the vessel’s sinking. Colombian researchers first identified the wreck’s location in 2015, sparking legal and diplomatic disputes over ownership rights.

The San José is believed to have carried 11 million gold and silver coins, along with emeralds and other valuable cargo extracted from Spanish-controlled colonies—treasures that could be worth billions of dollars today if ever recovered.

However, the government of President Gustavo Petro emphasized that the deep-sea exploration is focused solely on scientific research, not treasure retrieval. Officials noted that the shipwreck lies at a depth of about 6,000 meters on the ocean floor.