Ship Wreck

[Alexandre]

Story from BBC NEWS, Published: 2008/09/26



Uncovering Namibia's sunken treasure

By Frauke Jensen
BBC News, Oranjemund, Namibia


A team of international archaeologists is working round the clock to rescue the wreck of what is thought to be a 16th Century Portuguese trading ship that lay undisturbed for hundreds of years off Namibia's Atlantic coast.


The shipwreck, uncovered in an area drained for diamond mining, has revealed a cargo of metal cannonballs, chunks of wooden hull, imprints of swords, copper ingots and elephant tusks.
It was found in April when a crane driver from the diamond mining company Namdeb spotted some coins.

The project manager of the rescue excavation, Webber Ndoro, described the find as the "the most exciting archaeological discovery on the African continent in the past 100 years".

"This is perhaps the largest find in terms of artefacts from a shipwreck in this part of the world," he said.

Skeleton coast

The ship may have been unable to withstand the currents in the volatile seas off the Namibian shore.

The area is also known as the Skeleton Coast and is associated with the skeletons of wrecked ships and past stories of sailors wandering through the barren landscape in search of food and water.

Working out whose ship this was is no easy task.

Gold coins that the Portuguese crown began producing in October 1525 mean it could not have been the vessel of the famous seafarer Bartholomew Dias, who disappeared on one of his travels around the point of Africa in the year 1500.

But there are other pointers, including swivel-guns known to have been used by Portuguese and Spanish seafarers, and the boat's shape, indicating that it was a Portuguese "nau".

There are also copper ingots carrying a clearly visible trident seal that can be traced back to the German banker and merchant family of Jakob Fugger - the main suppliers of primary materials to the Portuguese crown.

Gold and silver coins have been deposited in a bank vault.


Rare navigational instruments have been sent to Portugal for research, while pewter plates and jugs, pieces of ceramic, tin blocks and elephant tusks are temporarily housed in a warehouse on the premises of the mining company.

Some are being freed of their layer of sand and salt to allow for more detailed scrutiny over their make and origin.

"It represents a very interesting cargo - we have goods from Asia, we have goods from Europe, we have goods from Africa," said Mr Ndoro.

"We always think that globalisation started yesterday but in actual fact here we are with something we can date to around 1500."

Protected

The site is about 130km (80 miles) south of the Namibian harbour town Luderitz, in an area long sealed off for mining.

The mines are established by sea-walling the ocean and dredging the dry seabed for diamonds.


Pumps ensure the sea does not reclaim the land - an exercise that is costing thousands of dollars each week.

Bruno Werz, the archaeologist leading the excavations, said the shipwreck was particularly valuable because it had not been tampered with.

"This collection has not been disturbed by human interference," he said.

"We are very fortunate to have found an untouched wreck with all the material that was on site still here in one collection."

Archaeologists from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, the United States, the UK and Portugal are working on the excavation, which is due to be completed by mid-October.

Thereafter the detailed work of recording and preserving, which can take up to 30 years, can begin.

Stone and metal cannonballs and other artefacts are being covered with plastic and sand to protect them from sun and air.

Mr Ndoro said the shipwreck was a very important find for Africa.

"Here we have different African countries cooperating to make sure we have saved this ship and we have something we can show to the world."

"I am sure there will be many more wrecks to be found here," he added.

"Namibia should invest in training archaeologists."

[Michael Alexander]

Frauke Jensen  was the lady I drove around the place , my international contact.... hehehehehe!

[Michael Alexander]

Well, last night the 2nd shipwreck public information meeting was held at the Cinema Gym..... It was very well attended, with a quick headcount showing 96 people in attendance.....

[Michael Alexander]

I heard that wreck was almost submerged under water again last night, problems with a pump that was helping to pump the seawater back over the seawall.... Bruno , reckons they had a helluva night .... but everything is back to normal..... He reckons he is giving a presentation to some "Knobs" 2nite, but declined to elaborate....

[SandyB]

Firstly how many " previously disadvanteged "  attended ... how many " I been to the shipwreck party and braai T shirts and peak caps" and a bit of rah!rah!  its our wreck .. sorry me just  doing the cynical  look ..  or was it just the normal run of the mill event .... ??as for the flooding etc ..  well they will now ensure that  the site remains   unflooded especially with the current  exposure ...

[Michael Alexander]

I mentioned to Bruno that they should find a sponsor, like BP or SHell to sponsor that seawall.... put there banner up on it for a month.... $1 000 000  a pot..... then time will no longer be a factor......

Ammie, the National Geographic lady is still in town and is apparantly doing High Tec photography on the site in the evenings, smoke and lazer stuff.....

Can't wait for that edition of National Geographic to come out!

[Michael Alexander]

I heard this morning that the shed that is used to store the recovered artifacts, is now to small to accomodate all the pieces and the shed is now being doubled in size....

I heard this morning, that the ship , over the years, actually caved/crashed in on itself, and that there is still another level to excavate, the bottom level.... more treasure perhaps? Slaves?

I heard this morning, that the Minister and a few other dignatories will be arriving on Friday to "view" the excavation!

I heard this morning that the wreck will soon be able to be "lifted" from it's final wresting place!


Thats all that I hears today!

[Bertie Horak]

You hears a lot, Mike.  Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

[Florrie van Zyl (Muir)]

Yes, thanks, very interesting.

[georg ruf jr.]

geez hey. Do the people speak that loud in OM or do you hear that well Mike??

[Michael Alexander]

Actually , people whisper in my ear in this town..... they don't want to get into trouble.....     

[Michael Alexander]

Ok..... I heard a few more bits and pieces, (Thanks to a few people, who I owe a drink or two when I see you again!)

I heard that due to a funeral this weekend, the PM and minister will not be visiting the site...

I heard that the wreck is to be "lifted", but not right now....there is apparently 3 metres from were the excavation is now to the bedrock underneath! So only the top level has been excavavted!

I heard that this weekend might produce exciting results, I cannot disclose if this would take the form of treasure or more importantly , the name and crew of ship!

I heard that certain members of the team believe that a few of the poor sailors more than likely made it to land...(which we debated on this forum, back in April....with regard to which direction do you go when you hit the desert..... Alexandre' reckoned north, al'a portugues in Angola...little did they perhaps know that a mere 16km south lay the mighty Orange river!

I heard that there are plenty more experts arriving next week!

I heard, that this wreck, is only the Stern of the ship.... where? Oh! Where is that bow!, Like Andy said on this forum, it's either part of the seawall...or 100 m up on a mine dump!

I heard that the experts are going to go throught the mines records, with record to strange objects recovered.....

Man! is'nt this the best story you have ever followed in many a year......

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Yes Mike that is a top story, Pity only the slow releases by the officials

[Michael Alexander]

On the news24 article..... that there is only 10 days left till the wall comes down, it;s costing N$100 000 a day to keep the place dry....... Can;t the American Senate throw some of that U$ 700 billion this way.... it seems almost a crime to rush such an important and historical find....

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Mike  -  send them a mail there, Boet!  You never know......?