Archaeologists discovered remains of a 16th century ship that sunk in Pensacola Bay, West of Florida, USA. The wreck is one of the ships of a Spanish colonisation expedition sunk by a storm in 1559.

Archaeologist of the University of West Florida claim to have found a third sunken wreck of a 16th century ship taking part in Florida’s colonisation attempt by the Spanish. The expedition was lead by Tristan de Luna y Arellano, appointed by the  viceroy of New Spain (present Mexico), Luis de Velasco. Luna lead a fleet of 11 ships, carrying around 1500 soldiers and civilians. Eight of the ships –  five ships, a galleon and a bark – were sunk by a sudden hurricane, and a storm surge pushed one caravel and its cargo into a grove inland. The disaster struck before any of the armada’s ships were unloaded, with cargo still in their holds.

The first wreckage, named Emanuel Point I, was found by the archaeologist in 1992. The second one, named Emanuel Point II was discovered in 2006. Ten years later, earlier this year, the third ship, was discovered. The latest shipwreck is said to have been buried in a shallow spot with a sandy bottom. Underwater archaeologist managed to  ballast stones, iron concretions, ceramics and the articulated hull of the ship.

(after RT)