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Argentine Diggers Find 18th-Century Galleon

300-year-old Spanish wreck found by team building Buenos Aires apartment block

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 31, 2008 10:16 AM CST
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(Newser) – Workers digging the foundations for a riverside apartment complex in Buenos Aires stumbled across the buried wreck of an 18th-century Spanish galleon, Reuters reports. Experts believe the ship is at least 300 years old and was likely driven ashore by a storm and then buried in mud. Archaeologists are combing the area for remnants of the galleon's cargo.

"I don't think there's any treasure, but what there will be is a nice collection of artifacts," said one archeologist. So far several cannons have been discovered, along with several jugs probably used to hold olive oil. Construction of the building is to continue but the city's mayor promised that the unprecedented find would be preserved.

Archeologists dig amid the remains of a ship found buried near Buenos Aires.
Archeologists dig amid the remains of a ship found buried near Buenos Aires.   (BBC)
An earthenware jug found in the remains of an 18th-century galleon.
An earthenware jug found in the remains of an 18th-century galleon.   (BBC)
Argentinian archeologists are examining the wreck of a Spanish galleon found by workers digging foundations for a new building.
Argentinian archeologists are examining the wreck of a Spanish galleon found by workers digging foundations for a new building.   (Shutter Stock)
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Builders discover colonial-era ship
BBC

Mayor says unprecedented find belongs to city
Latin American Herald Tribune

 
shipwreck • ship • Argentina • excavation • Buenos Aires

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