Marine reserve yields old shipwrecks

From CBS News

A cannon, three coins and a porcelain cup were among the first objects Colombian scientists recovered from the depths of the Caribbean Sea where the mythical Spanish galleon San José sank in 1708 after being attacked by an English fleet, authorities said Thursday.

The recovery is part of a scientific investigation that the government authorized last year to study the wreckage and the causes of the sinking. Colombian researchers located the galleon in 2015, leading to legal and diplomatic disputes. Its exact location is a state secret.

Dubbed the "holy grail of shipwrecks," the ship is believed to hold 11 million gold and silver coins, emeralds and other precious cargo from Spanish-controlled colonies, which could be worth billions of dollars if ever recovered.

President Gustavo Petro's government has said that the purpose of the deep-water expedition is research and not the treasure's seizure. Colombia's culture ministry said in a statement Thursday that the cannon, coins and porcelain cup will undergo a conservation process at a lab dedicated to the expedition. The wreckage is almost 2,000 feet deep in the sea.

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By Emily Mae Czachor - CBS News
 

A pocket watch that once belonged to one of the Titanic's most renowned passengers has sold at an auction for $2.3 million — a record price for memorabilia related to the historic shipwreck, according to the auction house.

The 18-carat gold watch was gifted to its original owner, Isidor Straus, by his wife, Ida Straus, for his 43rd birthday,said Henry Aldridge and Son, the auction house that sold it on Saturday. It was recovered from his body after the Titanic sunk in the North Atlantic in April 1912.

Isidor Straus was an American businessman and politician who owned the Macy's department store in New York City. He and his wife were first-class passengers on the Titanic during its maiden voyage from England to New York, and the couple are remembered for their final act of selflessness while on board. 

Witnesses who survived the Titanic wreck said afterward that the Strauses were offered two seats on a lifeboat once the ship had struck an iceberg, according to the U.K. government's National Archives.

But Isidor Straus refused his seat, instead insisting that it should have been offered to younger men, and Ida Straus followed him, reportedly saying, "Where you go, I go."

According to those archives, Isidor and Ida Straus were last seen standing arm in arm on the deck of the Titanic, before a wave crashed overhead and washed them out to sea.

The Strauses were the ancestors of Wendy Rush, wife of OceanGate founder Stockton Rush, who died in the infamous Titan submersible explosion in 2023 en route to the Titanic wreck site.

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From Fairtrade
 

In a significant archaeological discovery, South Korean researchers have recovered a 600-year-old tax ship, known as Mado 4, which provides insight into the maritime operations of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). The vessel was raised from the seabed off the west coast in October 2022, following nearly a decade of conservation efforts.

Mado 4 is the only fully excavated Joseon-era ship and offers tangible evidence of the kingdom’s complex maritime tax network.

Initially discovered in 2015 near Taean, South Chungcheong province, Mado 4 rests at approximately 25 meters deep. The excavation site yielded over 120 artifacts, including wooden cargo tags denoting destinations, state rice containers, and government-produced porcelain.

These artifacts confirm that the ship was integral to a state-run transport system called “joun,” essential for moving grain and official goods from regional depots to Hanyang, now Seoul.

The ship is believed to have sunk around 1420 while navigating treacherous waters from Naju, a grain collection center. Its preservation under sand and silt has allowed researchers to observe key elements of Joseon-era engineering. Notably, Mado 4 features a twin-mast design, marking a departure from the single-mast ships prevalent prior, indicating advancements aimed at improving speed and maneuverability.

Moreover, the use of iron nails for repairs—the first confirmed instance of metal fasteners in Korean vessels—contrasts previous understanding that traditional ships relied solely on wooden joints.

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By Ainsley Brown - ATI

Divers at Tantura Lagoon have uncovered three shipwrecks, the oldest of which dates back 3,000 years — and they were filled with containers like bowls, jars, and amphorae as well as food like grapes and dates.

Archaeologists have discovered three Iron Age shipwrecks off the coast of Israel, and their cargo has reshaped experts’ understanding of ancient trade across the Mediterranean. The wrecks were found in Tantura Lagoon, also known as Dor Lagoon, near the ancient harbor city of Dor.

This is the first discovery of sunken cargo within a former port city in Israel and it provides deeper insight into Iron Age trade than pre-existing land-based evidence.

A new paper published in the journal Antiquity describes how the project, carried out by the University of California San Diego in conjunction with the University of Haifa, used both traditional methods of research alongside newer techniques. Archaeologists used 3D modeling, multispectral imaging, and digital mapping to examine the wrecks and surrounding waters throughout 2023 and 2024.

In all, the team was able to explore three shipwrecks laden with vast amounts of cargo at a sandbar near Dor.

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By Nisha Zahid - Greek Reporter

An ancient Greek shipwreck was uncovered just six meters below the surface off the coast of Santa Maria del Focallo, in the municipality of Ispica, Sicily.

The remarkably well-preserved vessel dates back to between the 6th and 5th centuries BCE and is considered one of the most significant finds in the Mediterranean in recent years. The shipwreck was first uncovered in 2024 during the fifth phase of underwater excavations, with further discoveries made in 2025 as part of the sixth campaign.

The excavation is led by the University of Udine’s Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage, in partnership with the Sicilian Region’s Superintendency of the Sea.

The effort is part of the Kaukana Project, a long-term scientific initiative launched in 2017 by the late Sebastiano Tusa and Massimo Capulli.

The project focuses on reconstructing the historical and underwater landscape of Ragusa province by exploring coastal remains near the ancient cities of Ispica, Kaukana, and Kamarina.

During the five-week excavation conducted between May and June of 2025, archaeologists uncovered an unusually intact structure.

The team retrieved a mast—a component rarely found preserved in ancient wrecks—alongside black-figure pottery, a section of rope in excellent condition, and a small alabastron, or perfume vessel, inscribed with the Greek word “Ναῦ” (Nau), meaning “ship.”

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