Shipwreck Reveals Precious Coins, Rare Pewter Artifacts

[ScubaFinder]

This went out on PR News Wire last week, thought you guys would enjoy it. Pics of a sampling of the artifacts can be seen here: http://www.arsdr.com/


PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The most important shipwreck of its kind dating from the 1500s was recently discovered by Anchor Research & Salvage SRL.
According to noted pewter expert Martin Roberts "Pewter finds from the 2012 diving season continue to support present hypotheses on date and origin while also surprising collectors and challenging orthodox knowledge of the mid-16th Century pewter trade. The quantity of pewter now recovered definitely makes this the largest single cache ever discovered."

Recovery and preservation efforts are ongoing, according to Robert H. Pritchett, CEO of Anchor Research & Salvage SRL & Global Marine Exploration, saying "…many more discoveries are likely as we bring the latest technology and our full resources online. We've only just scratched the surface."

About Global Marine Exploration, Inc.
Global Marine Exploration, Inc. (GME), a C Corp. is a privately held company headquartered in Tampa, FL. Visit: www.gmexploration.com
Anchor Research & Salvage SRL is a Global Marine Exploration Inc. company working in conjunction with the Punta Cana Foundation & Sub Aquatic office of the Minister of Culture Dominican Republic.

Media Contact:
Ron Alber
EVP, Director of Communications
809 848 9985
[email protected]

Bobby Pritchett
CEO
809-299-3483
813-777-1977
[email protected]
SOURCE Global Marine Exploration, Inc.
​

 

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[aquanut]

This went out on PR News Wire last week, thought you guys would enjoy it. Pics of a sampling of the artifacts can be seen here: Anchor Research & Salvage


PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The most important shipwreck of its kind dating from the 1500s was recently discovered by Anchor Research & Salvage SRL.
According to noted pewter expert Martin Roberts "Pewter finds from the 2012 diving season continue to support present hypotheses on date and origin while also surprising collectors and challenging orthodox knowledge of the mid-16th Century pewter trade. The quantity of pewter now recovered definitely makes this the largest single cache ever discovered."

Recovery and preservation efforts are ongoing, according to Robert H. Pritchett, CEO of Anchor Research & Salvage SRL & Global Marine Exploration, saying "…many more discoveries are likely as we bring the latest technology and our full resources online. We've only just scratched the surface."

About Global Marine Exploration, Inc.
Global Marine Exploration, Inc. (GME), a C Corp. is a privately held company headquartered in Tampa, FL. Visit: www.gmexploration.com
Anchor Research & Salvage SRL is a Global Marine Exploration Inc. company working in conjunction with the Punta Cana Foundation & Sub Aquatic office of the Minister of Culture Dominican Republic.

Media Contact:
Ron Alber
EVP, Director of Communications
809 848 9985
[email protected]

Bobby Pritchett
CEO
809-299-3483
813-777-1977
[email protected]
SOURCE Global Marine Exploration, Inc.
​

Very Cool Jason!

 

[maipenrai]

Lovely artifacts, but why is every ship wreck that is discovered, the "most important"? Well, maybe some day, they will have discovered all the "important" ship wrecks, and let the treasure hunters have the less important. Does maritime history really change after an "important" wreck is discovered? Does it make a bit of difference in history, if a museum has 50 coins from a wreck, or 5,000?

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

Looks like some kind of English Tudor monarch's tag on the side of the pewter.

And that ring, whenever I see a tree like that I think of Saint Julian's pear tree and the Knights of Alacanta.

 

[Southern_Digger]

What a fantastic discovery! Enjoy seeing the artifacts. My favorite are the hammerhead and the grappling hook, reasoning that we can relate it to similar products of today; and, see how little or how much they have developed in 400-500 years. Of course, the emblems are interesting and I am wondering of its nationality. Okay experts... what to the coins say--i.e.: date?, nationality? Thanks for the link.

 

[ScubaFinder]

The reason for the "Most Important" comment was the rarity of the items coming up. We have more than ten pewter touchmarks or makers marks that have never been seen before. Pewter experts thought they had seen every design, every touch mark, etc. but this wreck continues to amaze them.

We also found a clump of coins, one coin fell off of the clump during excavation so it was cleaned individually. It turned out to be a rare coin from the Santo Domingo mint, with only about a dozen examples known to exist.

Then, we found a gold-guilded iron stirrup. Iron was rarely guilded with gold, usually only when making armor for royalty (at least that is the only reference our historians have found for the process). The fact that this stirrup was on board opens up a lot of exciting possibilities for this wreck and what else might be onboard. We have only covered about 50% of the debris area so far, and we are all very excited about the possibilities. It is truly interesting to work on an virgin wreck site with inbound cargo. We all love galleons loaded with gold, but to me this site is equally interesting, and probably more educational.

 

[bikerlawyer]

Jason are you working with Bobby in the DR now? I know Bill Jr. was until his dad recently passed. I may be planning a trip down there this winter and would love to see the operation.

 

[ScubaFinder]

Hi Brad, yes I'm working with Bobby Pritchett and ARS / Global Marine Exploration. I'm based in the Tampa office, but Bobby lets me out to go diving or surveying once in a while if I'm good. :-)

Bill Jr. still heads up our on-water operations for the Punta Cana expedition, I was just down there helping out in his absense. I needed to better understand our artifact intake, handling, and processing procedures, and I wanted to see this wreck while we were still uncovering virgin ground.

Contact Bobby at the address above to inquire about a visit while you are in the DR.

Jason

 

[mamabear]

amazing! Almonds? they are in such good shape!!! gosh, I would love to be the cook on that ship. may not be albe to dive, but to just see it & be there would be a dream come true.

 

[bikerlawyer]

Will do Jason, thanks! Is it possible to get a tour of your ops in Tampa sometime?

 

[ScubaFinder]

Brad,

Just let me know when you plan to be in the area and we will see what is going on. Shoudn't be a problem.

 

[Bobadilla]

Hello,

This shipwreck should be really named as one of "very important" from the reasons that Jason explaiend earlier in this thread. And as I could see the artifacts, it is only the beginning of great discoveries on this wreck site. Santo Domingo mint is extremely rare and sought for among numismatics and continuous finds could even clear some of the doubts regarding minting of coins in Hispaniola. Little is known about this period because the archives of Santo Domingo burnt twice to the ground in the past. As Jason wrote here, not only gold, silver and emeralds are important, artifacts coming from early Conquer period shipwreck that can reveal and confirm the history are priceless.

Jason, you old pirate, let me know in advance when you come down here again. My car has been damaged (American car.....), I have been looking for spare part (electronical chip) for a month now and without any success. But no problem, I am willing to go to Punta Cana on foot, like in old times of Spanish Conquer.......

Regards,
Lobo

 

[ScubaFinder]

Lubos, maybe I can help you with your car part, PM me specific info and I will see if I can get one for you. I will definitely get in touch next time I am in the DR. I came through your area, but we were on a tight schedule and couldn't stop. Stay safe my brother, I will see you soon.

Jason

 

[comfortably numb]

Lubos, maybe I can help you with your car part, PM me specific info and I will see if I can get one for you. I will definitely get in touch next time I am in the DR. I came through your area, but we were on a tight schedule and couldn't stop. Stay safe my brother, I will see you soon.

Jason

Jason, If you can't find what Lubos needs send me the info. I still have alot of contacts from when I had my shop.
I might even have what he needs here.
Jeff

 

[Bobadilla]

Jason and Jeff,

Thank you very much for your help, and I really mean it. I am desperate, so I will grab your offer and I will send you PM with the info about the damaged car part. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Regards,
Lobo

 

[Bobadilla]

Jason,

I just sent you email, bro. Thanks!!!

Best regards,
Lobo

 

[ropesfish]

Very impressive results, Jason. All that and getting to work in the DR...pretty nice!
I agree that the makeup of inbound cargo will tell a much clearer story of what life was like at the time of the ship's sinking. Discovering what the community needs were in the 1500's will help determine what was available at the ports at both ends of the voyage. The pewter finds with unknown touchmarks will fuel a lot of interest in the archaeological community, and those are the people that advise governmental agencies on who to let look for what.
Another reason that could contribute to a "Most Important Wreck" status is the story that has to be told to the Dominican people. If the only wrecks that are to be salvaged are the heavily laden treasure ships, then it might be interpreted that the real reason for excavating these sites is merely for monetary gain. Nowhere in the Caribbean do I see any group that wants to be viewed as participating in the "plunder of cultural heritage". Look at what has not happened in the Bahamas. No one wants to be seen as in league with the Americans who have come to take all the treasure. I would submit that good PR and a good result with this excavation might pave the way for other partnerships with the DR government in the future, so this is a MOST IMPORTANT shipwreck.

To clarify...I do not think that shipwreck sites are somehow sacrosanct and should be left to deteriorate to the point that nothing is left, all in the name of "Cultural Heritage". I do, however, believe that we are stuck with the present-day public perceptions about "Treasure hunters" and have to work within the boundaries that those perceptions cause. (and it sucks.)

 

[Bobadilla]

Ropesfish, WELL SAID! Thank you.

 

[ScubaFinder]

Thanks Ropefish, I couldn't agree more, we have a great team at work down there in both of our areas. The "Pewter Wreck" never ceases to amaze us with the artifacts that we bring up.