Perplexed diamond miners off the shores of Africa stumbled upon a valuable find – a 500-year-old shipwreck filled with gold worth an incredible $9 million. The discovery of the Bom Jesus ship is truly a miraculous event! #miracle #BomJesus
The ship, first identified and uncovered by geologists working for the mining company De Beers, was found off the coast of Namibia near Oranjemund in April 2008.
Dr. Dieter Noli discovered the site where the ship belonged to the Golden Era of Portuguese sailors and explorers who sought new lands to colonize and profit from. The ship, called Bom Jesus, set sail from Lisbon in 1533 under the supervision of Sir Francisco de Noronha but mysteriously disappeared on its way to India, along with its precious cargo.
The miners at the site found several other shipwrecks in the region while working to drain an artificial salt lake. The discovery of the oldest shipwreck, Bom Jesus, was not immediate; artifacts were found on the beach before the buried treasure was unearthed.
It took the miners a whole week from initially finding signs of the shipwreck on the beach to finally uncovering gold coins and ivory tusks. Their hard work and perseverance paid off with the discovery of a massive treasure trove after six long days of digging.
Discovering the sunken shipwreck of the Bom Jesus with its extensive collection of gold coins has been deemed one of the most significant maritime finds in history. This site has been recognized by UNESCO for its importance in preserving underwater cultural heritage.
The treasure trove of the Bom Jesus contains a diverse array of items from various countries around the world. On board, there were ivory from West Africa, copper ingots from Germany, gold coins from Portugal, Spain, and Venice. Additionally, the collection includes silver coins, weaponry such as knives and high-quality swords, as well as personal belongings of the crew and remains of the deceased sailors. Among the ruins, there were also astrological tools, musket compasses, bronze bowls, and long metal poles used in the ship’s structures.
Dr. Dieter Noli, an archaeologist, has reported that the Namibian government will be retaining the gold coins found among the wreckage of the ship, most of which are in mint condition. Since the treasure was technically discovered within Namibia’s borders, it is customary for the country to keep the spoils if a shipwreck or treasure is found near the beach.
A unique aspect of the rule is that if the ship carrying the treasure is determined to have flown the flag of a specific nation at the time of its sinking, then the remains automatically belong to the country whose flag it was displaying in its final moments. However, authorities in Portugal displayed immense generosity and relinquished their claim over the treasure, allowing the Namibian government to retain it.
