A sea of stories
Monteiro, researcher at Institute of History, Territories and Communities, New University of Lisbon, has spent the last 25 years diving and studying underwater finds.
He created a database that identifies 8.620 shipwrecks in Portuguese maritime territory. Among them, 7.500 are on the mainland coast, around 1.000 in the Azores and 120 in Madeira.
These are ships from after 1500, a period in which historical documentation began to record vessels and their features in greater detail. routes.
The archaeologist reports a remarkable case. During research in the Azores, he found a lost reference, in a footnote, about the ship Our Lady of Light, which sank in 1615 in Faial. “It took me four years of researching in various archives. When I finally dove, on the first dive I found the wreck site.“, account.
Monteiro points out that, in the past, treasure hunting companies would knock on the door of the regional government of the Azores. “The tragedy is that we didn’t know how many ships there were or where they were. We knew little, almost nothing,” he reveals. Today, the situation has changed, and the database helps to identify points of interest.
A sunken fortune
Among the treasures identified, an impressive example is the ship Nossa Senhora do Rosário, sunk in 1589 in front of Troia.
According to Monteiro, the Spanish galleon carries 22 tons of gold and silver. “I even investigated the name of the commander’s mother. This information is published, but no one did anything.“, the Mint.
The treasures are protected by sand and time, but that doesn’t mean they are safe. Monteiro warns that port construction or infrastructure projects could expose or destroy these finds before they are studied or preserved.
He reinforces: “We know that there are 250 treasure ships. Sooner or later, some work will find one of them.“.
The stories of these shipwrecks are full of details that impress anyone.
The Nossa Senhora do Rosário, for example, was on a crucial trade route at the time, transporting riches that financed kingdoms and wars.
These ships are not just submerged vaults; they are witnesses to maritime expansion and the great events that shaped history.
The enigma of the galleon São Jorge
Another case that arouses interest is the galleon São Jorge, which sank 500 years ago during Vasco da Gama’s last expedition to India.
Possible remains were found in 2007 in Malindi, Kenya. Monteiro and archaeologist Filipe Castro were contacted by Caesar Bita, a Ukrainian specialist, who showed images of artifacts indicating that it was a Portuguese ship.
“We can say that it is a ship from the first half of the 16th century, lost on the way to India. Given the documentary evidence, it is most likely the São Jorge.”, explains Monteiro.
The confirmation would be historic, as it is the oldest Portuguese ship to have been archaeologically excavated. Such a discovery offers unprecedented insight into the conditions of navigation at the time and the challenges faced by Portuguese navigators.
The São Jorge galleon, like many other shipwrecks, has the potential to reveal important information about Portuguese shipbuilding, the materials used and even the logistical organization of the expeditions.
Each find is a piece of the puzzle that helps tell the maritime history of Portugal.
A heritage at risk
Despite the cultural and economic potential of shipwrecks, Portugal has yet to implement robust measures to protect these finds. Monteiro shared his findings with authorities but regrets the lack of action.
He warns that modern projects, such as pipelines and offshore infrastructure expansions, could destroy these sites before they can be studied.
The scientific community is also putting pressure on the Portuguese government to prioritize the preservation of underwater heritage.
Proposals include the creation of marine sanctuaries and investment in archaeological expeditions, measures that could protect these sites and reveal valuable historical secrets. International institutions have also shown interest in collaborating in the conservation of this heritage.
Monteiro believes that with a month of work on specific projects, he could locate more of these treasures.
He points out that the use of modern technologies, such as high-resolution sonar and unmanned underwater vehicles, can significantly speed up the discovery and documentation of shipwrecks. However, without adequate support, these initiatives remain limited.
Until this happens, the riches remain submerged, holding stories and enigmas that await unraveling.
These sunken treasures are a powerful reminder of Portugal’s maritime history and the need to protect them for future generations.