In a stunning revelation off the Namibian coast near Oranjemund, diamond miners stumbled upon a treasure trove worth an estimated £9 million hidden within the depths of a 500-year-old shipwreck. The discovery of the Bom Jesus, affectionately dubbed the “Good Jesus,” marks a watershed moment in maritime archaeology, shedding light on a mysterious chapter of history lost to the sands of time.
Pictured: Some of the Spanish coins
A selection of items from the ship with a trowel below them for scale. The best preserved astrolabe is in the middle, a frying pan on the right, some pottery on left, a pewter plate above and a section of a pewter bowl
Geologists from the renowned mining company De Beers made the serendipitous find in April 2008 while draining a man-made saltwater lake along the Skeleton Coast. While shipwrecks are not uncommon along this perilous stretch of coastline, the Bom Jesus stands out as the oldest vessel discovered laden with a cache of coins and ivory tusks, hinting at a lucrative trade route lost to antiquity.
Led by the intrepid Captain Sir Francisco de Noronha, the Portuguese vessel embarked on its fateful journey from Lisbon in 1533, bound for the shores of India. However, the voyage ended abruptly in mystery, with the ship and its crew vanishing without a trace until its reemergence centuries later as an archaeological marvel.
It was not until the sixth day that they found a treasure chest full of gold.
Archaeologist Dr. Dieter Noli, in an exclusive interview with FoxNews.com, disclosed the intricate legal intricacies surrounding the ownership of the treasure. According to Dr. Noli, while the standard protocol dictates that the host country retains ownership of discoveries on its shores, the Bom Jesus, belonging to the King of Portugal, technically qualified as a “ship of state.” Nevertheless, the Portuguese government graciously relinquished its claim, allowing Namibia to retain possession of the entire trove.
Some rosary beads and a silver Portuguese coin that were found among the haul of the Bom Jesus
Archaeologist Dr Dieter Noli demonstrating the use of an astrolabe found among the ship’s wreckage
The excavation of the Bom Jesus unraveled a tapestry of historical artifacts, including German copper ingots, West African ivory, and a myriad of Portuguese, Spanish, Florentine, and Venetian gold and silver currency. Among the bounty lay weaponry, clothing, and skeletal remains, each fragment echoing the vibrant tapestry of intercontinental trade that characterized the Age of Exploration.
Archaeologist Dr Dieter Noli told FoxNews.com that the Namibian government will keep the gold.
The discovery’s significance reverberated across the globe, prompting UNESCO to designate the site under the Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. Dr. Noli, wielding an astrolabe salvaged from the wreckage, demonstrated the advanced navigational tools employed by seafarers of yore, underscoring the invaluable insights gleaned from this archaeological marvel.
How the ship would have looked. It was a Portuguese ship which set sail from Lisbon in 1533 captained by Sir Francisco de Noronha, and vanished, along with its entire crew, while on a voyage to India
As the sands of time continue to reveal their secrets, the Bom Jesus stands as a testament to humanity’s enduring quest for knowledge and the untold stories waiting to be unearthed beneath the waves.