Namdeb Geologists Discover 16th Century Shipwreck with Spanish Gold, Weaponry
May 01, 08
Namdeb geologists have uncovered what could be the oldest sub-Saharan shipwreck ever discovered, possibly dating back to the late 1400s or early 1500s. The ship was found with six bronze cannons, tons of copper, elephant tusks, weapons and thousands of Spanish and Portuguese gold coins, minted in the late 15th or early 16th centuries. On April 1, Bob Burrell, the head of Namdeb’s Mineral Resource Department, found some rounded copper ingots and the remains of three bronze cannons on a mining site in Diamond Area 1, located in the Sperrgebeit on the All mining operations were suspended and archaeologist Dr Dieter Noli was brought to examine the artifacts. He identified the cannons as Spanish Breach – loaders of a type popular in the early 1500s. The excavation process, which recovered less than half of the wreck and the artifacts, took one week, after which mining was resumed. The fact that the discovery was made inside the protective zone, known as Mining Area 1, ensures that the wreck is secure, allowing it to be thoroughly researched. Archaeologists, in conjunction with the National Heritage Council, are keeping an independent inventory of the content, and Namdeb has provided temporary secure storage for the artifacts. To date, the site has yielded a wealth of objects including pewter tableware, navigational instruments, weapons and Spanish and Portuguese gold coins and is a significant archeological and historical discovery.