Share this @internewscast.com

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered a 300-year-old shipwreck laden with treasure worth over £101 million.

The ship – believed to be the Nossa Senhora do Cabo – was sunk by pirates off Madagascar in 1721 during one of the most infamous raids in history.

The sunken Nossa Senhora do Cabo’s lower hull captured in a photomosaicCredit: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation
Researchers prepare for a dive off the coast of Madagascar, where the shipwreck was discoveredCredit: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation
Among the 3,300 artefacts recovered from the wreck are pottery fragmentsCredit: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation

The Portuguese vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India, to Lisbon, Portugal, when it was raided.

The treasure ship is thought to have been attacked on April 8, 1721, by pirates under the command of Captain Olivier “The Buzzard” Levasseur, during what historians refer to as the Golden Age of Piracy.

The raid became one of the most notorious of the era due to its staggering plunder – thought to be one of the richest pirate hauls in history.

An estimated 200 enslaved people were also onboard at the time, and their fate remains unknown.

The Nossa Senhora do Cabo was a heavily armed, state-owned carrack, making its capture all the more humiliating for the Portuguese Empire.

Following 16 years of investigation, researchers at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation discovered the wreck in Ambodifotatra Bay, near Nosy Boraha Island off Madagascar’s northeast coast.

More than 3,300 artefacts were pulled from the site, including religious figurines, gold ingots, pearls and treasure-filled chests.

One ivory plaque is inscribed with gold letters reading “INRI”, which is the Latin abbreviation for “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum” – translating to “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”, as mentioned in the Roman gospels.

Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini, researchers from Brown University behind the discovery, described the haul as “an eyewatering treasure, even by pirate standards”.

They estimate the cargo alone could be worth more than £108 million in today’s currency.

Map showing location of 300-year-old pirate shipwreck off Madagascar, with image of the wreck.
Divers uncover shipwreck of Glasgow vessel almost 140 years after it vanished without trace

During the period that the Nossa Senhora do Cabo sailed, Portugal controlled key trade routes between India and Europe, transporting valuable goods from its colonies back to the Portuguese mainland.

Besides carrying spices and precious stones, the ship also transported enslaved people, who were forced to work in ports and mines throughout the empire.

Because of their material and human cargo, ships bound for Europe were prime targets for pirates, who could sell both goods and enslaved people for huge profit.

Ivory inscribed with the letters ‘INRI’ (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum)Credit: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation
A Madonna statue recovered from the 1721 shipwreckCredit: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation

The discovery comes as researchers say they found a centuries-old Spanish galleon stacked with a £16bn treasure trove.

The San Jose, which was sunk by the British in 1708, was long thought to be lost beneath the Caribbean waters.

But academics in Colombia believe that a wreck found near Baru Island in 2015 is in fact the long-lost galleon.

An underwater drone mission a decade ago captured images of the cargo scattered in and around the shipwreck.

Among the items recovered were silver coins minted in Lima in 1707, Chinese porcelain from the Kangxi period and cannon inscriptions dating back to 1665.

Site plan of the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo shipwreck excavation.
Site plan of the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo shipwreck excavationCredit: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
The Walt Disney Company scores 137 nominations for the 77th Emmy Awards! "The Bear," "Andor," and more get recognized

Disney Secures 137 Emmy Nods! “The Bear,” “Andor,” and Others Shine at the 77th Awards

LOS ANGELES — The Walt Disney company earned an exciting 137 nominations…
Lenny Hochstein dating Russian model Alena Kovalenko

Lenny Hochstein in a Relationship with Russian Model Alena Kovalenko

Dr. Lenny Hochstein has a new girlfriend, Page Six can exclusively reveal.…
Mugshot of Guy House, Kentucky church shooter.

Kentucky Church Shooter Threatened Violence in Troubling Online Posts About Children’s Mother Before Killing Two

THE Kentucky church shooter made multiple disturbing posts about his children’s mother…

Heroic Rescue: Father Saves 5-Year-Old Daughter After She Falls 50 Feet from Disney Dream Cruise Ship

COPS have revealed how a five year old girl fell into the…
Chicago shooting: Family, friends say goodbye to Taylor Walker , victim killed outside Artis Lounge in River North

Farewell to Taylor Walker: Family and Friends Mourn Shooting Victim Outside Artis Lounge in River North, Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — Family and friends gathered to say goodbye to Taylor…
Rep. Wesley Hunt probes how many of New York’s 670K illegal immigrants are on Medicaid

Rep. Wesley Hunt Investigates Medicaid Enrollment Among New York’s 670,000 Undocumented Immigrants

Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt is seeking clarification from New York Gov. Kathy…
Florida teen fights off alligator that dragged her underwater

Florida Teen Successfully Escapes After Alligator Attack in Water

A teenager in Florida was attacked by a 10-foot alligator and survived…
PAWS Chicago helps dogs from Texas flood arrive from Concho Valley PAWS, rescue organization in San Angelo

PAWS Chicago Assists in Relocating Dogs from Flooded Areas in Texas, Partnering with Concho Valley PAWS in San Angelo

CHICAGO (WLS) — Nearly two dozen dogs from flood ravaged Texas are…
NJ flash flooding kills at least 2 after surging waters sweep up vehicle

At Least 2 Dead in NJ After Flash Flooding Sweeps Away Vehicle

At least two individuals lost their lives in New Jersey when flash…
Flash flooding across tri-state area prompts road closures, subway delays in NYC, state of emergency in NJ

Flash Floods Cause Road Closures and Subway Delays in NYC, NJ Declares State of Emergency Across Tri-State Area

Severe flash flooding hit the tri-state area on Monday, leading to subway…
US inflation hits new high amid Trump's tariffs

US Inflation Soars to Record Levels as Trump’s Tariffs Take Effect

On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.3% from May to June, after…
Menendez brothers bank on new trial as backup if parole bid fails

Menendez Brothers Consider New Trial as Alternative if Parole Attempt Fails

The notorious Menendez brothers, who notoriously murdered their parents with a shotgun…