The galleon San Jose.
1987-1990
1987-1990: Location and excavation of the San Jose, a 17th century Spanish vessel, off Lubang Island, the Philippines.
In 1692 and 1693, bad weather conditions and acts of piracy caused delays in the departure of the "Manila galleons". Orders were given to build a huge ship capable of transporting the goods accumulated in the Spanish colony. The San Jose, with a load capacity equivalent to three portuguese "naos", became the largest ship ever launched.
Built in Manila in nine months and loaded on 28 June 1694, the San Jose left the port of Cavite at noon on 29 June for Acapulco. Caught in a typhoon, it battled for two days before crashing on the reefs of Lubang Island on the evening of 4 July. Of the five hundred crew members, only a few survived. The huge cargo of gold, silk, wax, spices and porcelain was completely lost. This shipwreck is considered one of the greatest losses in Spanish naval history.
However, the artefacts that were recovered during excavations give an idea of the wealth carried and the life on board a 17th-century galleon. The archaeological finds include musket balls, iron nails, lead and copper ingots, some 700 glass buttons and numerous sherds of porcelain and jars.
Mission report : National Museum of the Philippines.
Publication in progress
Built in Manila in nine months and loaded on 28 June 1694, the San Jose left the port of Cavite at noon on 29 June for Acapulco. Caught in a typhoon, it battled for two days before crashing on the reefs of Lubang Island on the evening of 4 July. Of the five hundred crew members, only a few survived. The huge cargo of gold, silk, wax, spices and porcelain was completely lost. This shipwreck is considered one of the greatest losses in Spanish naval history.
However, the artefacts that were recovered during excavations give an idea of the wealth carried and the life on board a 17th-century galleon. The archaeological finds include musket balls, iron nails, lead and copper ingots, some 700 glass buttons and numerous sherds of porcelain and jars.
Mission report : National Museum of the Philippines.
Publication in progress