Oro Español: Santa Maria Colon´s Captain Caravel Discovery

Dominican Republic Islands reveal similar sight of that which Colon must have encoutered in First Journey

In the year 1492 Cristobal Colon sailed through the Atlantic Ocean in three vessels and reached America in a journey that changed forever the history of the World. Colon took on his first journey with three Caravel vessels…only two of these ships returned to Europe and Spain. What happened to the largest and the leading captain ship of Colon named Santa Maria? The issue has been an open debate for the past five centuries. Recently a new marine archeological expedition assures to have discovered the Santa Maria off the coasts of Haiti. The ship is considered the Holy Grail of the first days of the colonial era and an invaluable archeological treasure.

On June 8^th Telegraph reported that the discovery of the Santa Maria is generating controversies and doubts. Portuguese-American historian, Manuel Rosa, said that the discovery of the shipwreck is impossible – because the ship never sank.

Barry Clifford US Marine Archeologist continues to assure to have found the remains of the shipwreck in the north of Haiti. Since May 13^th when Clifford made his findings public to “safeguard the integrity of the archeological discovery” the pages of Colon´s navigation books are being reopened by scholars who search once again for clues to solve one of the greatest navigation mysteries of all times.

There are different theories to what happened to the Santa Maria. Some say Colon himself sank it for diverse reasons, while others argue it was used entirely to build Fort Navidad (Christmas) in Haiti where a group of men traveling with Colon in his first journey remained until his return. Other theories say that the Santa Maria ran aground –was stripped from essentials including wood for the Fort Christmas construction and then sank. Clifford assures to have identified diverse objects of the Santa Maria under water such as the canon and canon ball.

It must have been an impressive sight to see the Santa Maria grounded by coral and sand in the untouched Caribbean and later be swallowed by the transparent sometimes violent waters.

Clifford is considered one of America's top underwater explorers linked to wrecks including that of the pirate Henry Morgan's ship, a series of Spanish treasure galleons and the Boston Tea Party boats. In 2003 Clifford began documenting the area of the coast where he assures the Santa Maria rests. The discovery is described as “one of the world’s most important underwater archaeological discoveries”.

“All the geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that this wreck is Columbus’ famous flagship, the Santa Maria,” said the leader of a recent reconnaissance expedition to the site, Clifford.

Clifford assures to have carried out purely non-invasive survey work at the site – measuring and photographing it. Clifford has had the full support of the government of Haiti –the site was declared of interest to protect it from looting. Clifford is urging for complete excavation to reveal the entire wreck. The government of Haiti declared the area World Heritage.

The Santa Maria and its sisters Caravels –La Niña and La Pinta can be considered the first gold to reach the Caribbean. Those searching for shipwreck treasures and relics know that the Santa Maria was the first ship to open the route Europe-America catalyzing the waters for thousands of legendary accounts which led to hundreds of other shipwrecks.

If one would think that because this was the first expedition ships transport would not include gold, according to the log-navigation books one would be incorrect. Ships could have not only transported local gold from Spain in form of “Maravedíes” -ancient coinage replaced later by the gold doubloons but are reported to transport back to Spain gold of local Caribbean native original communities.

The Crown of Spain contributed a total of 1.14 million Maravedies –cash advanced to Colon´s first expedition. Colon himself is said to put in half a million of Maravedies. Funds were utilized for the entire preparation including ship contracts. It is probable that some coins were transported on board. Colon´s First Journey log-book reveals objectives which include new routes for Asian trade as well as species and gold search. The first Journey Colon is linked to several Caribbean islands such Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Haiti. Historical information assures that he returned to Spain with a chest of gold given to him by a leader of an original community member. Stories about his first journey are full of cryptic messages, strange accounts and different versions exist, however, all coincide in basic facts.

For the Marine Archeologist Barry Clifford the area of exploration in Haiti is the final resting place of the Santa Maria. Any fragment of the ship is price-less due to the historical importance of the Santa Maria. The vessel laid the foundations for the history of Caribbean, the Americas, Europe and the rest of the World. It is considered gold for archeological science, history and for culture.

Ocean Life News in Brief

Ocean Level Increase Dropping Oceans Floor: International Press reported on December 5 on the findings of new research which assures that due to ocean level increase the ocean floor is sinking. The study published online in Geophysical Research Levels used mathematical equations to accurately measure the Ocean's floor impact driven by the increased of water volume weight. Using data from 1993 to 2014 researchers found that ocean level increase is causing the Ocean floor to drop globally by the milimeters. Ocean Dead Zones Up By Four: On January 8 New York Daily reported that Ocean Dead Zones have quadrupled.Researchers warned in a new study that oxygen-starved ocean dead zones, where animals and plants are struggling to survive, have increased fourfold and it may not be reversible. The new study was published in the Journal Science. The increase of Dead Zones was linked to climate change. La Niña´s Polar Wave Hitting Hard the US -Freezing Oceans: International Press reported on the Polar Wave hitting hard the US. The event is linked by experts to the influence of La Niña. “For the past couple of weeks, parts of North America have been chilling down to record temperatures, with massive snowfall and icy cold conditions putting life at a standstill for many,” media reported. The US East Coast has been particularly badly hit with the likes of Boston down to Philadelphia reaching bone-chilling lows of near 0°F , with icy winds making it feel closer to around -10°F to -20°F. Officially 18 were dead and 100 million affected. Government of Bali Declares a Garbage Emergency: On January 5 Ocean Conservancy reported on a New Waste Management Emergency in Bali. Massive amounts of ocean debri are affecting the island. The situation has reached its peak as the Government of Bali declared a “Garbage Emergency”. Clean up works have began. “Ivory Coast Village Swallowed by Ocean Increase,” Aljazeera Reports: On January 8 Al Jazeera reported that ocean increase levels are affecting infrastructure in the Ivory Coast. “Rising tides and more frequent, devastating storms are slowly destroying what is left of Lahou-Kpanda, the offshoot of what was once a major colonial town near the mouth of the Bandama River, the longest river in Ivory Coast,” Al Jazeera reported. Arctic Ocean Radioactive Levels on the Rise: IFL Science reported on January 3 on the findings of new report which assures that radioactive levels in the Arctic Ocean are on the rise. “Concentrations of radioactive radium-228 in the Arctic Ocean increased between 2007 and 2015,” the report reads. While levels have not yet reached a mark of concern the trend is worries experts. Lauren Kipp of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution addressed the issue. New World Wide Ocean Turtle Study Says 90% of Plastic Pollution Cases Result in Death: Earth Sky Org reported on January 7 that hundreds of marine turtles die every year after getting tangled in trash in oceans and on beaches. A research published in the journal Endangered Species Research took on a World-Wide Survey covering the major oceans where turtles live. They discovered that 91 % of the entangled turtles were found dead. They also suffered serious wounds from entanglement, leading to maiming, amputation or choking. Double Whirlpools Discovered for First Time: December 4 Press reported that Double Eddies have been registered for the first time in History. Tangled up Double Eddies can travel great distances affecting ecology significantly. Eddies are a natural part of the ocean environment but double whirlpools had only been theorized by mathematicians.