Shipwreck Artifact Recovery Continues

A cannon, three coins, and a porcelain cup were recently recovered from the legendary San José shipwreck, which rests 2,000 feet deep in the Caribbean Sea. The recovery is part of a scientific investigation that the Colombian government authorized in 2024 to study the wreckage and the causes of the Spanish galleon’s sinking. Earlier this year, researchers analyzed Spanish cobs found near the site.

Dubbed the “holy grail of shipwrecks,” the vessel sank in 1708 and is believed to hold 11 million gold and silver coins, emeralds, and other precious cargo from Spain’s colonies, which could be worth billions of dollars. However, the Colombian government has stated that the purpose of the deep-water expedition is research and not the treasure’s seizure. The cannon, three coins, and porcelain cup will undergo a conservation process at a lab dedicated to the expedition.

Since its discovery, multiple parties have laid claim to the shipwreck—it has been the subject of a legal battle in the United States, Colombia, and Spain over who owns the rights to the sunken riches. The ship’s exact location has been kept secret to protect the storied wreck from potential treasure hunters.