400-Year-Old Shipwreck Discovered

A Renaissance-era shipwreck, discovered off of the coast of Portugal, is being called the “discovery of the decade,” by archaeologists. The uncovering of this vessel was made near Cascais, a coastal city near the country’s capital of Lisbon.

Officials in Portugal have stated that “it’s the most important discover of these times from an international and Portuguese point of view.” The Nova University of Lisbon and the government of Portugal funded the research of this shipwreck with help from both the navy and municipal government of Cascais.

The vessel, which sits 40 feet below the water’s surface, is in a region believed to be a hot-spot for shipwrecks, at the mouth of the Tagus River. Estimated to be around 400 years old, the vessel is believed to be a trade ship, and researchers discovered cowry shells, Chinese ceramics, peppercorns, and several large cannons bearing the royal coat of arm of Portugal.

It is believed that the ship was on a return journey from a trade expedition to India when it sank. Much of what makes this shipwreck so unique is how well preserved the items found within actually are. More often, these kinds of discoveries possess objects that have almost completely deteriorated.