Ship Wreck

[Alexandre]

the wreck is after 1525, but not before, yes, there human remains....... this could get exciting still....

I got to meet Alexandre's replacement , Miquel.... I walked up to this large guy after the briefing ...patted him on the shoulders and demanded my free beer.... he looked at me like I was crazy..... I repeated my statement...... free beer... He blinked...wondered who the heck this guy is...then I said... I am a friend of Alexandre'...Paulo....... .I know Philipe and Donny...his face broke into a broad smile.........  AHA! he exclaimed, turned to the other Portugues chap...SO you are the contact.... hehehehehe ! felt like I was in a spy movie....

(Alexandre'..what is the short guys name again?)

(Philipe, they mentioned your pepper wreck at the media briefing!)

Miquel invited me out for those free beers tonight, I humbly declined.... Those boys are busy...let them deal with their media....there are plenty of days ahead...!

1) after 1525, yes, we had already settled that issue months before here on this forum, hadn't we? :)

2) the shorter, older guy, must be Francisco Alves, my ex-boss, my ex-teacher... :)

3) Michael. you declined free beers?? I think you got scared from his looks. Miguel Aleluia was born and raised in the Aveiro harbour, we csn beat any Oranjemunder on a free beer drinking spree with his hands tied.... :)

[Alexandre]

Scientists study 16th-century shipwreck in Namibia

ORANJEMUND, NAMIBIA Sep 22 2008 16:33

A treasure-laden 16th-century Portuguese vessel that ran aground off
Namibia's Atlantic coast was hailed on Monday by archaeologists as providing
a rare insight into the heyday of seafaring explorations between Europe and
the Orient.

"This is a cultural treasure of immense importance," Bruno Werz told
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) when offering journalists a first glimpse of
the precious find at the excavation site in Namibia's diamond-rich
"sperrgebiet", or no-go zone.

The shipwreck, which was discovered by geologists dredging the seabed for
diamonds in April and was covered in sand on Monday for preservation
purposes, is believed to be the oldest yet found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Werz is leading a team of archaeologists and geologists from Namibia, the
United States, Portugal, South Africa and Zimbabwe in excavating the ship.

Speculation had been rife that the vessel could be linked to Portuguese
explorer Bartholomew Diaz, the first European to round the Cape of Good Hope
in the year 1488.

But that theory was put to bed by the archaeologists, who revealed that some
of the about 2 000 gold coins discovered at the site were dated October
1525, 25 years after Diaz disappeared.

A Portuguese archaeologist described the wreck as the best-preserved example
of Portuguese seafaring efforts found outside Portugal. He attributed its
good condition to its long burial in sand, which preserves wood.

Apart from the gold, the ship's rich bounty includes 1,4kg of silver coins,
copper ingots, cannons and navigational instruments.

A trident indented on the ingots shows them to have been supplied by German
merchant house Jakob Fugger -- a known supplier of ingots to the Portuguese
crown in the era of the Habsburg dynasty.

The shipwreck is located near Oranjemund, about 160km south of the town of
Luderitz, site of a small diamond mine.

With state diamond mining company Namdeb spending vast amounts of money on
keeping the sea at bay while the excavations are taking place, pressure is
on the team to wrap up the work by early October.

The coins, which are now the property of the Namibian government, have
already been spirited away for safe-keeping. The wood is destined in the
short-term for the US, where it will be preserved. -- Sapa-dpa

Source: Mail & Guardian Online

[Florrie van Zyl (Muir)]

This shipwreck story has been the most amazing thing we could ever have wished for on this site. It has been so intriguing, the men-in-black etc, a real mystery unfolding on our forum, contact with Alexandre, etc. I have been on Facebook but it has nothing on our site, it is so boring by comparison. I enjoy the conversations we have and reading everyone's views. Once again, thanks Mike!

[Michael Alexander]

Thanks Florrie, But I guess there are a mountain of people to thank for the interesting topics.... especially all you ex Oranjemunders..... it's your input also..... The portuguese for sending that boat to india 500 years ago.... It;s just amazing to sit back and realize what a diversified bunch of members we are.... From the Dentist to the undersea Archeaologist..... To the Man on the Run from DeBeers and right down to forget the leprechauns, Mysterious men in black and quite few reporters who have used material on this site for their articles...... It's been an amazing ride so far...... just wait for the reunion photographs..... I heard from another lady today of a few more people who had heard of the reunion and plan to attend, but are not even on this site..... one ponders in amazement!

[Bertie Horak]

Let's sing.....
"We are fa-mi-ly.... da-da, da-da, tra-la....."

No, it's true, I agree with Florrie.  This is an amazing story, and it has been kept alive by Mike's up-to-date posting of news (which he gets from sharing a beer with influential people and hard work too), our brother Alexandre's great input, and the views of the people who've been working in that area of the mine with great additional knowledge - just a great family, I say!  Thanx to all involved!

[DUNJA WRBKA]

 

Think this calls for a group hugggggggggggg


*BIG HUGZ ALLROUND* 

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Article in the AZ today

http://www.az.com.na/lokales/grter-fund-des-jahrhunderts.73584.php

[Michael Alexander]

Here's a bit of political gossip doing the rounds this fine morning in oranjemund...

Last night the Shipwreck presentation at the school audiotorium went off very well....well attended, all the seats were taken..... it turns out that afterwards the Permanent Secretary was not very happy that there were not too many previously disadvantaged Namibians at this presentation...why were'nt there more there?  The reasoning was that the majority that were in attendance all had internet access.... the majority not...But then what about all the nice colour adverts that were displayed all over the town?  Where were the missing previously disadvantaged people? Why were they not told....or were they not interested? The PM was not amused..... He has now demanded a second presentation on SUNDAY at 14h00 and expects to see the nation there.......

Why on a Sunday?

Will the politicians inform the masses where to go?

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

I would have expected that

Why should those " disadvantaged people " have interest in old wood that could be used to make a camp fire instead ????   202

If each was given one of the coins....may be 

[SandyB]

Read the  relevant  topic as well  .. good  stuff  the wreck is in the open .. the right people are attending to its recovery ...  and of  course the politicians  have to  muddle in hey ??

[Florrie van Zyl (Muir)]

Tell them they can have time off from work, free transport to and from the venue, a free t-shirt and 80% will be there, add a free meal and 100% will be there.

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

How would the previously disadvantaged gain from this presentation?
Its not changing thier lives?
Why would they have any interest in it?
Makes sense they wouldn't bother going, colourfull posters and all.

[Bertie Horak]

I'm sure the ship must be the talk of the town.  So, the people who were really interested would have known about it or made plans to attend.  The internet is not the primary communication channel in the desert I'm sure.  Please, were they expecting personal invitations delivered by horse and carriage?!

[Clive Symes]

If the presentation was done in the school auditorium, I would expect that the school kids would have known about it as well, therefore parents etc.
It realy Pi$$es me off the way everything revolves around the same old track, if our brothers are not interested, so what! their loss.
Georg & Florrie's coments are valid for the older generation, who are generally more interested in the cooka shops & that culture. ( I remember the last Christmas Party I attended, there was a stampede for the braaipacks, I took the wife & kids home and never went to another)

I would however have thought the some of the younger generation would have been interested?

[Alfred Boehme]

Lots of things all rapted up in plastic "klingrap"