Great Treasures of History Sunken Treasure Some organizations

Great Treasures of History

Sunken Treasure • Some organizations estimate that there may be as many as three million shipwrecks scattered across the world’s oceans. • Some of these lost treasures could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, maybe even more!

Sunken Treasure • Searching for sunken treasure is an expensive undertaking, and it is not without risk…. • Treasure from shipwrecks often belongs to the government where it originated.

Did You Know? • The major sunken-treasure areas are the Gulf of Mexico, the western Caribbean, and the waters off the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Azores. • Professional treasure hunters spend months or years in research to discover a wreck’s location and cargo value. • Today, divers have technology on their side—ROVs, submarines, scuba gear, metal detectors, radar, etc. — but in ancient and medieval times, people had to skin dive with weighted diving bells. • In 1687 William Phips, an American shipping merchant, recovered treasure worth about $1, 000 from a sunken Spanish galleon in this way. • The development of diving suits in the 19 th century and of scuba equipment in the 20 th century greatly increased the extent of underwater treasure hunting.

The Titanic • Found south of Newfoundland in 1985, by a team of French & American explorers using an unmanned submarine • Some of its artifacts are being sold, valued at over $189 million. • UNESCO convention holds that taking artifacts from the site is unethical, and they want to preserve it as an underwater cultural heritage site. • What do you think?

Treasure of Antikythera • Ancient shipwreck discovered in the year 1900 off the island of Antikythera, near Greece • Most of the cargo was recovered during a 1976 expedition. • Treasure included artifacts, coins and jewelry • Famous “Statue of a Youth” from 340 -330 B. C. • Valued at $120 -160 million

Tucker’s Cross • Discovered by famous marine explorer Teddy Tucker in 1955 • The 22 karat gold cross is studded with emeralds. • Valued at $250, 000 • Stolen in 1975

Padre Island Shipwrecks • In 1554, a fleet of Spanish galleons set sail from Veracruz for Spain loaded with the plunder of the conquistadors. It was said to be the richest treasure fleet that ever sailed. • When a storm scattered the fleet, several galleons went down. Three ships - the Santa Maria de Yciar, San Estebán, and Espíritu Santo - wrecked on Padre Island. • Early efforts at recovery • More treasure salvaged in 1967

The Whydah Gally • One of only a very few pirate ships that have ever been found, the Whydah was the flagship of pirate captain “Black Sam” Bellamy. • Discovered in 1984 near Cape Cod, Massachusetts by Barry Clifford • Over 200, 000 artifacts including cannons, coins, gold jewelry, and more • Estimated value is $400 million • Its treasures are still being recovered to this day.

The Atocha Motherlode • The Nuestra Señora de Atocha was a Spanish treasure vessel that sank during a storm in 1622. • Found in 1985 in the Florida Keys by treasure hunter Mel Fisher • Value is estimated at $450 million, and the ship is still being explored

Santa Margarita • Part of the same fleet as the Atocha • First discovered in 1980 • Still being uncovered

The Ship of Gold • In 1857, the S. S. Central America was transporting gold from Panama to New York City, when it encountered a hurricane and sank, carrying 15 tons of gold. • Discovered in 1987 by a group from Ohio, led by Tommy Thompson • Thirty-nine different insurance companies claimed they had a right to the treasure because of damages paid in the 19 th century. In the end, the discovery team ending up with 92 % of the treasure. • Valued at $100 -150 million

San José Galleon • Part of a Spanish fleet that sailed from Portobelo to Cartagena in 1708 • It sank somewhere off the coast of Columbia, carrying between four and seventeen billion dollars worth of treasure. • It may have been found by a private salvage firm in 1981. • A major legal battle subsequently prevented the recovery of the treasure.

HL Hunley • • A Civil War submarine Originally found by E. Lee Spence in 1970 Officially verified and explored in 1995 Spence donated his portion of the findings (valued at $40 million) to the state of South Carolina.

SS Islander • A luxurious steamship designed for the Inside Passage between Alaska and Canada • Built in 1888 • Shipwrecked in 1901, carrying anywhere between $18 and $260 million in gold bullion • Numerous salvage attempts • Raising the SS Islander • Legal battle • The next expedition

Queen Anne’s Revenge • Blackbeard’s flagship • Discovered in 1996 by a private research company • Found in shallow water off the coast of North Carolina • Numerous artifacts and cannons have been recovered. • It is still being excavated to this day.

Belitung Shipwreck • Found by fishermen off the coast of Indonesia in 1998 • The 1 st Arabian ship to be discovered and excavated • A rich assortment of early 9 th century Tang Dynasty artifacts and treasures, including gold, silver, pearls, rubies and sapphires • Purchased by government of Singapore

Chiemsee Cauldron • Discovered by local divers in 2001 • In Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria (part of Germany) • Made by Otto Gahr, a well-known jeweler and Nazi Party member • Nicknamed “Hitler’s Bedpan”

Java Treasure Trove • Found in Indonesia in 2004 • Contains 14, 000 pearls, 4, 000 rubies, 400 dark red sapphires, and more than 2, 200 garnets, as well as artifacts from more than 1, 000 years ago • Treasure hunter Luc Heymans agreed to share the find with the Indonesian government 50 -50%. • But there is no policy regarding the collection and export of artifacts, so the treasure sat in a warehouse for years… • The government tried to sell the treasure at an auction in 2010, but the auction was a failure.

The Quedagh Merchant • An Armenian trading vessel captured by Captain Kidd in 1698 • Found in 2007 in shallow waters off the Dominican Republic

The Bom Jesus • This Portuguese ship sailed in 1533 and disappeared off the coast of West Africa. • Found in Namibia in 2008 by a major diamond mining operation • The ship was found buried in the sand. • Treasure includes more than 22 tons of copper ingots, cannons, swords, ivory and gold

http: //ngm. nationalgeographic. com/2009/10/shipwreck/toensing-photography

The Salcombe Wreck • Found near the coast of Devon, England in 2009 by amateur archaeologists • Artifacts date back to 1200 -900 B. C. • So far, over 300 artifacts have been found, including copper and tin, weapons, and several pieces of jewelry.

Odyssey Marine Exploration • Deep-water archaeology and shipwreck salvage company, based in Tampa, FL • Founded by Greg Stemm in 1990’s

Searching for Sunken Treasure • Research original documents – Cargo manifests – Passenger lists – Navigation routes – Anticipate issues with ownership

Searching for Sunken Treasure • Locate a shipwreck – Side-scan sonar – Magnetometer – ROV

Odyssey Explorer

ROV Technology

Searching for Sunken Treasure • Nondisturbance survey – Record & document everything – Create a map of the site • Collect a few small items to establish a claim to the site • Collect artifacts, under the guidance of an archaeologist • Stabilize & transport artifacts • Conservation process

Buen Jesús y Nuestra Señora del Rosario • Part of a fleet of ships sailing from the New World back to Spain, laden with colonial treasures, when they were struck by a powerful hurricane off the Florida Keys • The treasure includes silver, gold, and 6, 000 pearls. • First discovered in 1965 when shrimp fishermen pulled up pottery and other artifacts in their deepwater nets, but at a depth of 1300 ft below the surface, recovery wasn't feasible at the time • Later, from 1990 -1991, Odyssey was able to recover the treasure using an ROV. • Nicknamed the “Tortugas” project, it was among the first deep-sea ROV shipwreck recoveries in history.

S. S. Republic • The S. S. Republic was a US steamship lost during a hurricane in 1865 off the coast of Georgia. • Discovered in 2003 by Odyssey Marine Exploration • Treasure consists of more than 50, 000 gold and silver coins, along with almost 14, 000 artifacts • Lawsuit contesting Odyssey’s ownership • Estimates range from $75 -180 million

Blue China • During its search for the SS Republic in 2003, Odyssey located this shipwreck off the coast of Florida. • It was named "Blue China” because of the large amount of blue ceramics found at the site. • Thought to be an American trading vessel from before the Civil War • Later examination of the site revealed damaged from trawl nets being dragged across the ocean floor, displacing and smashing artifacts. • Rescue mission to recover as many intact artifacts as possible • Over 400 individual artifacts were recovered. • Some of the pieces are on display in Odyssey’s traveling exhibit “SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure. ”

RMS Laconia • Found off the coast of Ireland in 2009 by Odyssey Marine Exploration • Britain claims ownership • An ocean liner used during WWI to transport silver from Mexico and South America • Hit by a German torpedo in 1917, while returning from the US to England

S. S. Gairsoppa • The S. S. Gairsoppa sunk in 1941 after being torpedoed by a German U-boat. • In 2010, Odyssey Marine Exploration won an exclusive salvage contract from the UK. • The ship was discovered in 2011 in the North Atlantic. • Retrieved from a record depth of 3 miles below the surface • The ship carried 7 million oz. of silver, worth £ 600, 000 at the time. • Its value is now estimated at $200 million.

S. S. Mantola • A British steam ship bound for Calcutta, India carrying 600, 000 oz. of silver • It was sunk by a German torpedo in 1917. • The shipwreck was discovered near the Gairsoppa site. • Exclusive salvage rights were granted to Odyssey in 2011.

HMS Victory • A famous British warship sunk by a violent storm in 1744 • Discovered in the English Channel by Odyssey Marine Exploration in 2008 • Thought to contain 4 tons of gold coins

HMS Sussex • A large English warship lost in a severe storm off the coast of Gibraltar in 1694 • Thought to be carrying a substantial amount of treasure • Possibly found by Odyssey in 2001 • 2002 agreement with UK government • Currently excavating the site, trying to determine if it is, in fact, the HMS Sussex • Project interrupted by Spanish diplomatic relations

The Black Swan • Discovered in 2007 by Odyssey Marine Exploration • Treasure includes over 500, 000 silver coins • Its value is estimated at $500 million. • Ownership of the treasure was hotly contested. • In the end, it was decided that • the treasure should be turned • over to Spain.

Treasure Hunting Today • A Florida treasure-hunting family found an estimated $300, 000 worth of gold coins and chains off the coast of Florida over Labor Day weekend in 2013. • Rick Schmitt and his family uncovered the treasure 150 yards offshore. • The treasure comes from the wreckage of a convoy of 11 ships that were destroyed in a hurricane off the coast of Florida in 1715 while en route from Havana to Spain. • According to the ships' manifests, $400 million worth of treasure was on board and so far only $175 million has been found.

Treasure Hunting Today • The Schmitt family is sponsored by Brent Brisben, who owns the company that bought the rights to the wreck site from legendary treasure hunter Mel Fisher in 2010. • In accordance with U. S. and Florida law, the state of Florida may possess up to 20% of the find to put on display in a state-run museum. The remainder of the gold will be split evenly between Brisben's company and the Schmitt family. • http: //www. foxnews. com/science/2013/09/03/family-finds-300000 -goldtreasure-off-coast-florida/

Treasure Hunting Ethics • Are there sacred treasure sites that should not be disturbed? • How do you determine the value of a treasure? – Monetary worth – Historical / cultural significance • Who should the treasure belong to?