Colombia confirms find of legendary galleon San Jose

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed Saturday that the legendary galleon San Jose, a Spanish ship that was sunk in 1708 near Cartagena of the Indies with a cargo of gold and silver coins, was found at dawn last Nov. 27.

The first photos of the San Jose, a Spanish Galleon that sank off the coast of Cartagena 
more than 300 years ago, have been revealed [Credit: AFP/Getty Images]

"I feel very pleased, as head of state, to inform Colombians that undoubtedly, without a doubt of any kind, we have discovered the galleon San Jose, 307 years after it sank, Santos said in a statement at Cartagena.

According to the president, the operation to find the San Jose, which English pirates shot and sank with cannons, was coordinated by the Colombian Anthropology and History Institute, or ICANH, from the naval vessel ARC Malpelo, with the aid of international scientists and modern technologies.

Thus far, sonar images have spotted bronze cannons made specifically for the ship, 
arms, ceramics and other artifacts [Credit: AFP/Getty Images]

Santos said the discovery came "at sunrise last Friday, Nov. 27" during an operation of the Colombian Anthropology and History Institute, with the participation of the Colombian navy and several international scientists.

The Spanish galleon was found "near Colombia's Caribbean coast, in our waters, in an archaeological site that turned out to hold the flagship San Jose."

Experts sent down a deep-sea camera to examine the ship's wreckage ahead 
of a planned salvage operation [Credit: AFP/Getty Images]

Built in 1698 and loaded with gold and silver coins, the San Jose set sail in early 1708 from Portobelo, Panama, together with other ships of the Spanish Armada, en route to Cartagena of the Indies, but near the island of Baru it was attacked by English pirates and was sunk by cannon fire.

"It is a discovery of international importance, it constitutes one of the greatest discoveries and identifications of our submarine heritage, if not the very greatest, some say, in the history of humanity," the president said.

It is believed that the ship could be holding emeralds and gold and silver coins 
worth as much as $1.5billion [Credit: AFP/Getty Images]

ICANH director Ernesto Montenegro said identification of the ship was made possible by "the presence of bronze cannons cast especially for the galleon," whose photos were displayed Saturday and which, for the expert, "leave no doubt about the identity of this archaeological site."

Santos recalled as a tribute "the 600 sailors who died when the San Jose galleon sank."