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
Texas man on probation allegedly chases ICE vehicle, damages it after enforcement raid

Texas man on probation reportedly pursues and damages ICE vehicle following enforcement raid

Authorities reported that a man, who was released on bond for a…
'I couldn't stay silent anymore'

‘I Had to Speak Up’

Actor Derek Dixon from “The Oval” has stepped forward after filing a…
Mandatory evacuation orders in effect as 1,000-acre wildfire threatens Grand Canyon's North Rim

Evacuation Orders Issued as 1,000-Acre Wildfire Nears Grand Canyon’s North Rim

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is temporarily closed as mandatory…
Protesters and federal agents clash during raid at Southern California farm

Clash Erupts Between Protesters and Federal Agents During Southern California Farm Raid

A clash broke out on Thursday involving protesters and federal agents conducting…
Police investigating death of Maine paddleboarder as a homicide after discovery of body

Maine Paddleboarder’s Death Now Being Investigated as a Homicide After Body is Found

UNION, Maine — Police in Maine are investigating the death of a…
Darius Miles set for trial Dec. 1 in Tuscaloosa shooting

Darius Miles’ Trial for Tuscaloosa Shooting Scheduled for December 1

In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles is scheduled to…
Missing 3-year-old Alabama child found safe following statewide manhunt for father

Three-Year-Old in Alabama Safely Located After Father Triggers Statewide Search

AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – The 3-year-old boy at the focus of a…
Shanna Gardner's onto jailhouse snitches, even murderers and human traffickers

Shanna Gardner Targets Informants in Jail, Including Killers and Human Traffickers

On May 23, Gardner’s legal team submitted a motion requesting a court…
Supreme Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson triggered by 'state of our democracy'

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Expresses Concern About the ‘State of Our Democracy’

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, known for sparking debate, is facing…
Immigration operation at California cannabis farms leads to clash between federal agents and protesters

Federal Immigration Raid on California Cannabis Farms Sparks Confrontation with Protesters

On Thursday, demonstrators confronted federal officials during an immigration raid at a…
Karen Read asks Massachusetts court to throw out wrongful death lawsuit after murder acquittal

Karen Read Requests Massachusetts Court to Dismiss Wrongful Death Lawsuit Following Her Murder Acquittal

Karen Read, who was exonerated from murder charges last month concerning the…
Caribbean police work to ID body found during search for missing American as nearby security guard was killed

Caribbean Authorities Seek to Identify Body Found During Search for Missing American After Nearby Security Guard Killing

A security guard was killed about 9 miles from where an American…