Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History
(INAH) has announced in a statement that a team of underwater archaeologists
exploring in the Caribbean found a priceless shipment of jewels from the 18th
century. The discovery is being given top billing at the recently inaugurated
Museum of Underwater Archaeology, located in Campeche.
It’s believed that the jewels, likely intended for sale to
affluent Spaniards, were lost when a ship went down in the strong currents that
converge off the Yucatán coast. This is the first time that professional
underwater archaeologists have discovered artifacts of this sort in Mexico.
The treasure was discovered by Roberto Junco Sánchez,
sub-director of underwater archaeology at INAH, who said that in total 321 piece
of gold were recovered. Included among these were 83 rings, as well as
toothpicks, charms, rosary beads, medals, emerald broaches and crosses, and
five medallions and reliquaries.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the find wasn’t the gold, but the emeralds.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the find wasn’t the gold, but the emeralds.
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| Roberto Junco Sánchez |
“In total, there are 74 emeralds embedded in the jewelry,”
says Junco. “This includes a small dragon figure with 14 emeralds, two diamonds
and other ‘dragonlets’ with four emeralds in and behind their eyes, as well as
three large loose emeralds and one smaller one.”
The jewels shed light on the intense economic activity of
high-value items that occurred between the vice-royalties of the Spanish Crown.
“These items were destined for the upper classes,” says
Junco. “Only they could afford this kind of jewelry, and to show it off. We
have items for cleaning teeth, but the artefacts also provide insight into
religious rites and their significance, given the number of rosaries, crosses
and reliquaries.”
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