Hidden treasures: 250 shipwrecks lie unprotected
- On 01/01/2025
- In People or Company of Interest
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By Anna Ellis - Euro Weekly News
Alexandre Monteiro, an underwater archaeologist and researcher at Nova University in Lisbon, has identified 8,620 shipwrecks scattered along the coasts of mainland Portugal, the Azores, and Madeira. His findings are based on a detailed database of shipwrecks dating back to the 1500s, compiled from historical records.
Monteiro’s research documents around 7,500 wrecks along the mainland coast, 1,000 near the Azores, and 120 in the waters around Madeira. Among these, he estimates that about 250 may hold significant treasures.
One example is the Nossa Senhora do Rosário, a Spanish shipwreck from 1589 located off the coast of Troia. Monteiro explained that his investigation uncovered detailed information about the ship, including its cargo of 22 tonnes of gold and silver and even the name of the captain’s mother.
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