Historical wreck preservation center
Artifacts found in the wreck
The ship would be coming from Goa towards Lisbon when it was attacked by pirates. The load included a millionaire treasure with gold and pearl chests.
After 16 years of meticulous underwater investigation, a team of American archaeologists believes to have identified the wreckage of Nossa Senhora do Caboa Portuguese ship attacked by pirates in 1721. The ship is submerged on the coast of Nosy Boraha, an island near Madagascar that was once a famous pirate refuge during the so-called Golden Piracy Era.
The discovery was announced by researchers from the historical and detailed wreck preservation center in the last issue of the magazine. The team, led by Brandon Clifford and Mark Agostini, says the identification is supported by extensive evidence, including the Analysis of the structure of the shiphistorical documentation and religious artifacts recovered from the site.
The cargo, which included gold ingots and pearl chests, is valued at more than $ 138 million in current values (about 117 million euros), becoming one of More valuable pirate charges of maritime history.
Among the 3300 recovered artifacts are religious articles of ivory and wood, Probably made in Goaa Portuguese colony in India, including a representation of the Virgin Mary, part of a crucifix and a sign with the inscription “Inri”, in reference to the crucifixion of Jesus. These suggest that the ship departed from Goa to load to Lisbon.
Our Lady of Cabo was captured on April 8, 1721, near the meeting island, by a pirate fleet that included the Infame Olivier “O Abutre” Levasseur. According to historical records, the ship had been weakened by a storm and discarded its cannons, offering little resistance. On board were still high-patent passengers, such as the Portuguese viceroy and the Goa Archbishop, as well as about 200 slaves from Mozambique. The viceroy was later rescued, but the fate of the archbishop and slaves remains unknown.
The captured ship was taken to Nosy Boraha, known at the time as île Sainte-Marie, where the pirates often shared their spoils. This place was preferred by the pirates for their strategic position near the navigation routes and the lack of colonial supervision. At least four pirate-related wrecks are believed to be in Porto.
Although the sludge and sand have made the excavations of Our Lady of Cabo difficult, the team expects the continuation of fieldwork to reveal more about this and other wrecks in the region.
