2016-04-04 Mon

A 500-year old wreckage was found under water, 28 miles off the coast of Oman in 1998. After several years of excavation and scientific analysis which began in 2013, a team of archaeologists has confirmed that the wreck belonged to the Portuguese ship, Esmeralda, which was commanded by Vasco da Gama’s uncle, Vicente Sodre. The ship sank during a violent storm in May 1503, killing all crew members.

Researchers believe that it is the earliest ship from Europe's Age of Discovery to be found and investigated. The archaeological team published the full details in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.

The artefacts give valuable insight into what maritime trade and warfare was like in the Indian Ocean at this point in history. Gold coins made in Lisbon, Portugal, sometime between 1495 and 1501 as well as a bronze bell with an inscription indicate the ship was built in 1498.

An extremely rare silver coin named ‘Indio’, commissioned by King Dom Manuel I was also recovered. The Indio has been called the "ghost" or "lost" coin of Dom Manuel. Ancient weaponry was also found which proves that Manuel ordered military objectives from this fleet.

Vasco da Gama was the first to discover the direct sea route from Europe to India in 1498.