Archaeologists believe the may have stumbled across the wreckage of Christopher Columbus’ ship, La Santa Maria, off Hispaniola, the island Columbus himself similarly stumbled across while pursuing an eastern route to the ‘Indies’.
The Santa Maria, the vessel aboard which Columbus’ discovery that there was inhabited land west of the Iberian peninsula stunned the established order, ran aground and was destroyed on Christmas Day 1492 off the north coast of present-day Haiti, which today shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.
Top underwater archaeological investigator, Barry Clifford, told reporters: “All the geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that this wreck is Columbus’ famous flagship, the Santa Maria,”
So far, the latest reconnaissance expedition to the site has carried out a non-invasive survey – including taking measurements and photographs.
“The Haitian government has been extremely helpful – and we now need to continue working with them to carry out a detailed archaeological excavation of the wreck,” Clifford said.
According to reports, the wreckage was actually first discovered over a decade ago as one of several wrecks found in the Atlantic near the Caribbean Sea, but it is more recent research narrowing down where the Santa Maria was lost that has give rise to speculation that one of the most important maritime discoveries in history might be right under archaeologists’ noses.
