new find

piratediver

Sr. Member
Jun 29, 2006
264
6
newport, Rhode Island
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Arqueologia Subaquática, S.A. (AWW), in direct cooperation with RM Discovery Inc. (RMD), confirms after successful completion of a marine archaeological reconnaissance operation, the recovery of the biggest ever found shipwreck cargo of Ming porcelain. The Chinese merchant ship from the time of the Wanli Emperor sank around 1580 in over 50 meters depth approximately 150 km off the Indonesian coast.

'Based on conservative estimates a cargo of roughly 700,000 pieces of porcelain is expected. According to experts the value of the cargo could therefore be around US$ 70 Mio.', says Arqueonautas Worldwide CEO Nikolaus Count Sandizell out of Jakarta. 'The intrinsic value of the 'Wanli' shipwreck confirmed by the Arqueonautas team will allow us to interest potential investors so that by late summer the extensive salvage operations can begin. For us it is crucial to carry out this operation in a scientifically sound manner whilst being economically viable, which is guaranteed by AWW's expertise.', states Oliver Herrmann, director of RM Discovery Inc.

The protection of World Maritime Heritage is a focus of AWW's activities. 'This unusually large ship for the late 16th century makes this project a unique challenge for our team from a cultural, historical and commercial point of view.', informs Count Sandizell.

Latest information concerning the 'Wanli Cargo' is available at www.wanlicargo.com.

Arqueonautas Worldwide - Arqueologia Subaquática, S.A. was cofounded in 1995 by Nikolaus Count Sandizell and has since become the leading commercial marine archeological institution for shallow-water operations (up to 60 meters). Arqueonautas recovers the cargo of endangered historical shipwrecks under strict academic criteria. The Portuguese shareholding company has a paid up capital of EUR 5 million split in 5 million shares. The company's mission is to protect world maritime heritage and advance learning through scientifically conducted marine archaeological projects, aiming for a fair return on extended venture capital for investors. To date, Arqueonautas has discovered more than 300 shipwrecks in Africa, Asia and South America. Fifteen historical shipwrecks have been excavated and approximately 100,000 coins and over 10,000 artefacts have been recovered, document
 

cornelis 816

Sr. Member
Sep 3, 2010
466
47
If I had found a wreck like that I think I would keep my mouth shut . Especially in Indonesia . Been there and know the country pretty well . This smells like they want to sucker us in buying some shares . Cornelius
 

Salvor6

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I know Nicky Sandizel and he is a passionate lover of shipwrecks. I met him when he was excavating the Mozambique shipwrecks. He just needs money to salvage the Wanli wreck.
 

cornelis 816

Sr. Member
Sep 3, 2010
466
47
Salvor 6 , That is what I was getting at . Beside that he needs the right permit from the Indonesian government . And that is where the trouble starts . Too many to pay off . He will never get the cargo out of Indonesia . Unless he knows the right people . And than , it is still difficult . Cornelius
 

Alexandre

Bronze Member
Oct 21, 2009
1,047
435
Lisbon
Arqueonauta's motto: “Saving World Maritime Heritage since 1995″...



Ah ah ah ah! I am still laughing for the past 30 minutes!
 

diverdan

Jr. Member
Jun 16, 2011
57
14
Ellenton, FL
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Metal Detecting
Alexandre what are you doing to save maritime heritage? Why don't you apply for the permit to salvage the Wanli? I'm sure the Indonesian govt. would rather give you the permit instead of greedy treasure hunters. :laughing9: Then the Indonesian govt. will put everything on display in a new museum for everyone to enjoy. What is stopping you?
 

Alexandre

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Oct 21, 2009
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Lisbon
What am I doing? Well, you will read about what I am doing right now in... hmmm... let's say... in two year's time. In National Geographic.

(I got a permit from the Portuguese Government last week for a survey of a 65km stretch of Portuguese coastline - and two targets are candidates to be the first treasure ships to be properly and scientifically excavated. And yes, UNESCO and Spain are on the loop).
 

MORE AND BEYOND OSSY

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Jul 27, 2008
1,107
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BRISBANE
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Alexandre said:
What am I doing? Well, you will read about what I am doing right now in... hmmm... let's say... in two year's time. In National Geographic.

(I got a permit from the Portuguese Government last week for a survey of a 65km stretch of Portuguese coastline - and two targets are candidates to be the first treasure ships to be properly and scientifically excavated. And yes, UNESCO and Spain are on the loop).
Great news Alexandre :icon_thumleft: Can wait to read about it.
It will make for a good excuse to Visit Portugal, Best of luck and keeps us Informed.
Cheers, Ossy
 

VOC

Sr. Member
Apr 11, 2006
484
189
Atlantic Ocean
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(I got a permit from the Portuguese Government last week for a survey of a 65km stretch of Portuguese coastline - and two targets are candidates to be the first treasure ships to be properly and scientifically excavated. And yes, UNESCO and Spain are on the loop).

Ha, Ha, Ha, I am still laughing for the past 30 minutes! :laughing9: :laughing9: :laughing9:

Underwater Archaeologist have never properly and scientifically excavated a wreck to date.

All they excavations I have seen over the last 35 years have been a mixture of stupid mistakes, intentional and unintentional damage, lost and stolen artefacts, fudged measurements, flawed conservation, and mostly improbable or inacurate conclusions, but I will give it to them they normally produce a perfect final report.

Look forward to seeing the results of these wrecks if they dont run out of funds or interest befor the wrecks are found.
 

Salvor6

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Alexandre are you the archaeologist that excavated the Nossa Senhora dos Martires at the Tagus River?
 

Alexandre

Bronze Member
Oct 21, 2009
1,047
435
Lisbon
Salvor6 said:
Alexandre are you the archaeologist that excavated the Nossa Senhora dos Martires at the Tagus River?

No, Filipe is - he is also on our research team.

I did dived there and helped excavate it, though.
 

Salvor6

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WOW! Alexandre in response to diverdan's question, you really are saving our maritime heritage. You saved the hull timbers, sternpost, floor timbers, keel, sheathing and fasteners and more from this wreck. I'm sure they are all in a new museum that the Portugese govt. built to house all these artifacts. How did you keep the looters away? Did you have a Navy escort? I bet your eyes really popped open when you found the iron nails.
Why didn't you excavate the Mercedes? You knew where it was. You could have saved those 17 tons of coins from the greedy treasure hunters. Next time I take a trip to Europe I will make it a point to visit the museum where the shipwrecks you saved are on display. There must be a long waiting line to get in!
 

Salvor6

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Well Alexandre I am looking forward to your recoveries on your new wreck, if the treasure hunters don't get to it first. For those of you that don't know, the Nossa Senhora dos Martires is also known as the "pepper wreck." Filipe Castro found tons of peppercorns in the cargo hold. :o The archaeologists spent a fortune of donations excavating the wreck. I'm sure all those peppercorns they recovered are now on public display in a museum. Did Filipe take a few peppercorns for his personal collection?
 

Alexandre

Bronze Member
Oct 21, 2009
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Rest assured, those peppercorns were treated as any other artifacts. And if you really wanna know, there were at several books produced on it:

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/shiplab/pw07publications.htm

and an even a small scale model - that helps us understand how those ships were manned and sailed:




And you, my friend, what have you found lately from the confort of your armchair?
 

MORE AND BEYOND OSSY

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Jul 27, 2008
1,107
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Salvor6 said:
WOW! Alexandre in response to diverdan's question, you really are saving our maritime heritage. You saved the hull timbers, sternpost, floor timbers, keel, sheathing and fasteners and more from this wreck. I'm sure they are all in a new museum that the Portugese govt. built to house all these artifacts. How did you keep the looters away? Did you have a Navy escort? I bet your eyes really popped open when you found the iron nails.
Why didn't you excavate the Mercedes? You knew where it was. You could have saved those 17 tons of coins from the greedy treasure hunters. Next time I take a trip to Europe I will make it a point to visit the museum where the shipwrecks you saved are on display. There must be a long waiting line to get in!
You crack me up Pete :laughing9: :laughing9: ARR Sarcasm :laughing7:
Tell Alexander how you would excavate a ship wreck , Sorry Dredge ! If you can't sell the stuff on Ebay Dump it.
If it has no Gold or Silver, then you can tell Spain about it :icon_pirat:
Ossy
 

VOC

Sr. Member
Apr 11, 2006
484
189
Atlantic Ocean
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What I like about Archaeologist they pretend to be experts at everything.

If they are not the best photo mosaic photographers one minute, naval architects the next, they are then professional divers, then multy-beam surveys, then they are historians, then weather experts, and then after lunch they can do some processing or conservation, before the write some computer programme or do some legal policy work before the write a book or make a film.

No other profession would get away with it.

Underwater Archaeologist = Jack of All Trades but Masters of None

That’s why Underwater Archaeologist are paid crap wages and are under funded, as all other professions know they are a joke.
 

Alexandre

Bronze Member
Oct 21, 2009
1,047
435
Lisbon
I am good at these things: research, locate and excavate interesting wrecks. I am good with artillery, too. And coins.

I am lousy with ceramic identification, though, most notably Roman or faience. But I know people - who are lousy with locating wrecks - who are ceramic experts... ;)
 

Salvor6

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VOC I have to disagree with you. All the archaeologists I met are highly intelligent people with an abundant of knowledge in their field. You have to know a little bit about geology, hydrology, radiocarbon dating, scuba technology and chemistry to be a sucessful marine archaeologist. There has been too much archie-bashing on this forum. My mentor was Dr. R. Duncan Mathiewson III.
 

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