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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Sunken Treasure Found off Africa

16th century wreck packed with coins, artifacts

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(Newser) – Geologists have discovered a 16th-century Spanish ship with a cache of gold coins and priceless artifacts off the coast of Namibia. The stunning find was made last month by a crew seeking sites for coastal diamond mining operations, the South Africa Times reports. Work has been halted and the site secured for archaeologists, said a spokesman for the company, a DeBeers subsidiary.

"The site yielded a wealth of objects, including six bronze cannons, several tons of copper, over 50 elephant tusks, pewter tableware, navigational instruments, weapons and thousands of Spanish and Portuguese gold coins, minted in the late 1400s," said the spokesman.

Archeologist Dr Dieter Noli, counting the day's
Archeologist Dr Dieter Noli, counting the day's "take" of gold coins found in a shipwreck off Namibia.   (AP Photo/Namdeb Diamond Corporation)
A Spanish gold coin, three Portuguese silver coins and an instrument found on a shipwreck off the south west coast of Namibia.
A Spanish gold coin, three Portuguese silver coins and an instrument found on a shipwreck off the south west coast of Namibia.   (AP Photo/Namdeb Diamond Corporation)
Bruno Werz of the Southern Africa Institute of Maritime Archaeological Rresearch poses with two astrolabes found on the shipwreck. The astrolabe was the forerunner of the sextant.
Bruno Werz of the Southern Africa Institute of Maritime Archaeological Rresearch poses with two astrolabes found on the shipwreck. The astrolabe was the forerunner of the sextant.   (AP Photo/Namdeb Diamond Corporation)
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