The merchant ship sank in 1681 with crates containing swords, nails, and rolls of fabric on board.
In early 2011, archaeologists searching for the true pirates of the Caribbean came across a mysterious wreck. After years of historical research, they know what they have discovered.
In 1681, the Encarnacion, a Spanish merchant ship, sank during a storm near the mouth of the Rio Chagres on Panama’s Caribbean coast. Built in Veracruz, Mexico, the transport vessel was part of the Tierra Firme, a fleet of vital importance to the Spanish economy in the 17th century.
Despite sinking in less than 12 meters of water, the Encarnacion has curiously escaped rampage and is incredibly well preserved, in particular the lower half of its hull, thanks to its sinking into the sand.
At the time, the gold and silver mines of Mexico and Peru fueled the ambitions and coffers of the Spanish royal family. According to Fritz Hanselmann, an underwater archaeologist at Texas State University, Spanish settlers built fleets of merchant ships that were escorted by armed galleons and warships to transport the riches of the New World to Europe.
After bringing their treasures to Spain, the fleets turned around, full of European goods, and stopped in each Spanish colony to sell their cargo.
The Importance Of The Ocean
According to Jennifer McKinnon, an underwater archaeologist at East Virginia University who was not involved in the research, the Encarnacion is one of 16 Spanish wrecks discovered in America. However, almost all the wrecks found so far had been heavily looted. Ocean bacteria and tarets, which feed on wood, destroy what looters have spared.
A chance discovery
Hanselmann and his colleagues did not leave with the aim of finding L’Encarnacion. In reality, they were looking for ships belonging to Captain Henry Morgan, the famous English privateer. At the height of his influence, this legendary figure commanded a fleet of 36 ships and over a thousand men.
In 1670, 11 years before the Encarnacion sank, Morgan was on his way to plunder Panama’s capital when a storm sank five of his ships at the mouth of the Rio Chagres. Hanselmann and his team were searching for these ships when they came across a surprise.
According to Horrell, the Encarnacion was not carrying valuable cargo, such as gold coins or silver cups. However, its ordinary materials represented an interesting windfall for pirates… And now, for archaeologists.
Mark