Alejandro Mirabal

The shipwreck code-named MOG-001 was found on Mucalanga reef, Mogincual, in the Province of Nampula, Republic of Mozambique. It has been tentatively identified as the Nossa Senhora Madre de Deus e São José Marquês de Marialva, sunk on the night of the 2nd of September of 1802. The presence on the wreck site of 100 cannons, gold coins and stamped tin plates, make this wreck quite unusual.

Article in Wreckwatch Magazine, September 2020. The wreck site of the Portuguese ship Espadarte (1558) was discovered on the 30th of May 2001. The assessment of the site revealed that there was a number of Chinese porcelain artefacts within the archaeological context and the decision was made to excavate it. After the removal of approximately 80 tons of ballast; the collection of porcelain items (from the Ming Dynasty, all Jingdezhen ware) reached almost 2,000 pieces that were either intact or nearly intact.

The shipwreck code-named IDM-003 was found on Cabeceira reef, Ilha de Moçambique, in the Province of Nampula, Republic of Mozambique. It has been tentatively identified as the Nossa Senhora da Consolação, a Portuguese Indiaman, lost at this location in July 1608 during the Dutch siege of the island. The archaeological excavation of this wreck provided a collection of artefacts from the late 16th and the early 17th centuries giving us a glimpse of life on board those ships. A part of the wood structure survived allowing for the study of 16th century Portuguese naval architecture. The evidence suggests that IDM-003 was a typical Portuguese Indiaman, similar to those described in Portuguese 16th century ship treaties, with a keel of around 27.7m and an overall length of nearly 40m.

Inventory of marine archaeological sites discovered and assessed in the Cabo Verde archipelago, including Cidade Velha, during the archaeological explorations and interventions from 1999 to 2001. The list includes 44 wreck sites of archaeological importance which were investigated at various levels of intervention, some of them prior to 1999.

The shipwreck codenamed MAI-010 was found in the “Baia do Galeão” on the north coast of Maio Island, Republic of Cape Verde, on 12 August 1999 during a visual survey of the area. It was tentatively identified as a Danish East Indiaman sunk in 1780-1781, named “Grev Ernst Schimmelmann” which was under the command of Captain Hans Reimert Reiersen. The archaeological excavation of this wreck provided a very rare collection of Swedish copper plate money which allowed for the study of some of the numismatic aspects of that particular currency. The evidence confirms that the “Schimmelmann” was carrying Swedish copper plate money, a cargo of iron cannons and at least two boxes of small bronze signaling guns

The marine archaeological survey and assessment of part of the Bangka – Belitung province, in the Republic of Indonesia, took place over five seasons between 2007 and 2011. In total, 25 historical wrecks of various nationalities, spanning from the 9th to the 19th centuries were found, surveyed, assessed and recommendations for possible future interventions were given.

The shipwreck codenamed ANG-003 was located in Caldeira Island, within the group of islands known as “Ilhas Primeiras”, in Angoche, Province of Nampula, Republic of Mozambique, in 2003 following information from fishermen. The nature of the artefacts observed at the site as well as the typology of the artillery reportedly recovered from there, point to an unknown Portuguese Indiaman of the second or third quarter of the 16th century. The copper ingots found at the wreck carried marks which were tentatively identified as the trademark of the Fugger family during the same time period and archaeometallurgical analyses place their origin at the mining areas of Neusohl and other ore deposits of Slovakia.

The shipwreck tentatively identified as the São José, a Portuguese Indiaman vice-flagship (Almiranta) from the 1622 fleet was found in Infusse reef, Mogincual, in the Province of Nampula, Republic of Mozambique in 2004. The São José, en route from Lisbon to Goa, India, was lost at this location on the 24th of July of 1622 during a battle against the Anglo-Dutch fleet. The archaeological excavation of this wreck provided a collection of artefacts from the late 16th and the early 17th centuries which allowed the study of the numismatic and artillery aspects of that time. The evidence confirms that the São José was carrying Spanish reales minted in the Americas and Spain, belonging to the Portuguese crown.

Informe de la expedición de peritaje arqueológico a un pecio localmente conocido como “Sitio de los Cañones” o “Spanish Galleon”, localizado en la costa Oeste de Big Corn Island, municipio de la Región Autónoma de la Costa Caribe Sur (RACS), Nicaragua. Esta expedición se llevó a cabo con base en tierra, visitando el pecio diariamente y tuvo lugar entre el 14 y el 24 de agosto del 2017.

The archaeological objective of the mission was to try to locate the wreck site of the HMS Romney, a fourth grade ship-of-the-line that sunk during the 1707 Royal Navy disaster, with the ultimate goal of having the site legally protected under the UK’s Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 and subject to further archaeological study.

Durante a primeira metade do Séc. XVI, os carregamentos de especiarias das naus que regressa-vam a Portugal eram pagos principalmente com mercadorias (predominantemente cobre e prata alemã) e com o ouro trazido das minas portuguesas da África Ocidental e amoedado em Lisboa. Durante a segunda metade do século, esta prática mudou e o ouro foi praticamente substituído por prata, a qual já não era de origem europeia, mas americana, das Índias Ocidentais de Castela. Paralelamente ao influxo de reales espanhóis cunhados nas Américas, nos finais do Séc. XVI e princípios do Séc. XVII, a Europa começou a desenvolver um gosto por outros produtos orientais como a seda, porcelanas e chá, bens que resultaram do desenvolvimento do comércio em larga escala entre portugueses e chineses através de Macau, e sempre pago com prata. Os portugueses foram os primeiros a tentar introduzir os reales castelhanos na rota do comércio com o Extremo Oriente, o que conseguiram desviando o curso da prata americana para o porto dos Açores e de Lisboa.

Inventory of marine archaeological sites discovered in the province of Nampula, including the Island of Mozambique, during the archaeological surveys from 2001 to 2013. The list comprises 45 wreck sites of archaeological importance. Also includes cultural material located out of archaeological contexts.

End-of-season progress report on the survey in the waters off the Island of Mozambique and the province of Nampula of various wreck sites, potentially dangerous areas, and historical research. As a result, 5 historic wreck sites were found, and 4 historical wreck sites were revisited and evaluated.

This is a monitoring visit to a 17th century wreck site discovered in previous expeditions and tentatively identified as t’ Hert, Dutch, 1622. The objective of the visit was to evaluate the present conditions of the site in comparison to when it was found 8 years ago. Evidences of recent disturbance of the site were observed.

End-of-season progress report on the survey in the waters off the Island of Mozambique and Ilhas Primeiras of various wreck sites, potentially dangerous areas, and historical research. As a result, 2 modern wrecks were found, and 4 historical wreck sites were revisited and evaluated.

The wreck site of the Portuguese ship Espadarte (1558) was discovered on the 30th of May 2001. The assessment of the site revealed that there was a number of Chinese porcelain artefacts within the archaeological context and the decision was made to excavate it. After the removal of approximately 80 tons of ballast; the collection of porcelain items (from the Ming Dynasty, all Jingdezhen ware) reached almost 2,000 pieces that were either intact or nearly intact.

This expedition’s aim was to survey and assess 8 locations by local sources which were reportedly wreck sites or sites with cultural material. The inspection of these locations was made by visual survey and/or magnetometer and sidescan sonar surveys depending on the case and local conditions. As a result, 5 modern and 4 historic wreck sites were discovered and assessed.

A reconnaissance intervention of a wreck was carried out by our team assisting a Brazilian NGO that reportedly found it in the waters of Santa Catarina Island earlier that year. After inspection it was established that the archaeological site belonged to a wreck after 1582, most probably Spanish.

End-of-season progress report on the survey in the waters off the Island of Mozambique of various wreck sites and potentially dangerous areas. Also, the closing of two previously excavated wreck sites was completed in order to protect them from further degradation. As a result, two historic wreck sites were discovered and assessed.

This expedition’s aim was to survey and assess 14 locations by local sources which were reportedly wreck sites or sites with cultural material. The inspection of these locations was made by visual survey and/or magnetometer and sidescan sonar surveys depending on the case and local conditions. As a result, 7 wreck sites were discovered and assessed.

Report on the magnetometer, sidescan sonar and visual surveys in the areas of Warren Hastings reef and Berikat Rock, in the search for a wreck based on archival research. The main target for this survey was to try to locate the “Fingal”, an American ship reported as lost in this location in 1816. As a result, a wreck was found but not identified as the “Fingal”.

End-of-season progress report on the survey in the waters off the island of Mozambique and Mogincual in various wreck sites and potentially dangerous areas. The main target for this season was to try to locate the “São Bento”, Portuguese ship reportedly lost in the vicinity of Ilha de Goa in 1642. As a result, the wreck was found and assessed.

El pecio denominado IDM-003 fue descubierto el 3 de Julio del 2001 durante la exploración sistemática del área circundante a la Isla de Mozambique, situada en la Provincia de Nampula, República de Mozambique. Durante su excavación se constató que una parte importante de su casco sobrevivió bajo la protección del lastre. Aquí se presenta la descripción de la parte del casco que sobrevivió y un estudio preliminar de su estructura realizado a través de medidas, fotografías, dibujos y la observación de las piezas in-situ.

Between August and November 2008, a marine archaeological remote sensing survey was done in the waters off Tanjung Menjangan, Sumatra, Indonesia. The objective of this project was to locate a shipwreck based on archival research. A large area of the seabed was explored with magnetometers but that specific wreck was not found.

Between May and October 2007, a marine archaeological survey was done in the waters of BABEL, province of Bangka Belitung, Indonesia. The objective of this project was to locate, survey and record shipwrecks and/or submerged areas with cultural material. These sites were evaluated in their cultural and archaeological context and recommendations for management given. As a result, nine shipwrecks of archaeological importance were discovered and assessed.

End-of-season progress report on the excavation of the wreck site of the 17th century in Mogincual designated MOG-003, tentatively identified as the São Jose (1622) and the survey in the waters off the island of Mozambique and Mogincual in various wreck sites and potentially dangerous areas.

This is an end-of-season progress report on the excavation of two wreck sites of the 17th century off Mogincual and the island of Mozambique. MOG-003, tentatively identified as the São Jose (1622) and IDM-003, tentatively identified as the Nossa Senhora da Consolação (1608), and the excavation of a mid-19th century wreck designated IDM-010.

This is an end-of-season progress report on the excavation of two wreck sites of the 17th century off Mogincual and the island of Mozambique. MOG-003, tentatively identified as the São Jose (1622) and IDM-003, tentatively identified as the Nossa Senhora da Consolação (1608), and the survey and assessment of IDM-017, possibly the Santa Teresa de Jesús (1622).

The continuation of the 2003 marine archaeological survey of the Province of Nampula, Mozambique, took place between September and December 2004. The main objectives of this survey were to locate and evaluate areas of archaeological interest identified by archival research or local knowledge and to recommend the management for their protection. As a result, eight shipwrecks of archaeological importance were discovered.

The continuation of the 2001 marine archaeological survey of the Island of Mozambique took place between March and July 2004. The main objectives of this survey were to locate and evaluate areas of archaeological interest identified by archival research or local knowledge and to recommend the management for their protection. As a result, seven shipwrecks of archaeological importance were discovered and some out of context cultural material located.

Between September and December 2003, a marine archaeological survey was done in the waters of the Province of Nampula, Mozambique.  The main objectives of this survey were to locate and evaluate areas of archaeological interest identified by archival research or local knowledge and to recommend the management for their protection. As a result, eight shipwrecks of archaeological importance were discovered, and three known wrecks further investigated.

Between May and July 2001, a marine archaeological survey was done in the waters surrounding the Island of Mozambique.  The main objectives of this survey were to locate and evaluate areas of archaeological interest identified by archival research or local knowledge and to recommend the management for their protection. As a result, six shipwrecks of archaeological importance were discovered and some out of context cultural material located.