"Treasure-Laden Shipwreck Revealed After 30 Years... The Legendary Sunken Ship Is No Myth"

Discovered in 1995: Gold Coins and Jewelry Unearthed
Identified as a Merchant Ship Bound for Amsterdam from Morocco

The identity of a "treasure ship" discovered over 30 years ago has finally been revealed. Although gold coins and various valuables poured out from the shipwreck, the name and origin of the vessel remained a mystery for a long time. However, the recent discovery of a medieval document has solved the puzzle.

The British Museum introduced through newly released online materials that independent historian Ian Friel has uncovered the identity of the shipwreck found in Salcombe Bay, Devon, England.

This shipwreck was discovered in 1995 beneath the waters of Salcombe Bay on the southern coast of England. At that time, more than 400 gold coins from Morocco’s Saadi dynasty, along with gold jewelry, gold bars, Dutch pewter tableware, ceramics, cannons, and anchors were found under the sand. Even pills preserved for centuries were unearthed from a red earthenware jar. In particular, the large-scale discovery of Islamic gold coins is regarded as a rare achievement.

Artifacts carried on a shipwreck discovered in 1995 beneath the waters of Salcombe Bay on the southern coast of England. The British Museum

However, with most of the hull lost, there were almost no clues left to identify the name, nationality, or voyage route of the ship. Because of this, the British Museum, Bournemouth University, and the South West Maritime Archaeological Group in England continued a long-term joint study based on the artifacts recovered.

The first clue was the gold coins. The researchers confirmed that the most recently minted Moroccan coin dated to 1632, leading them to conclude that the shipwreck occurred sometime after at least 1632. The researchers explained that this coin became the decisive clue for pinpointing the time of the sinking.

Next, a record from the High Court of Admiralty in 1633, discovered by Friel in the UK National Archives, became the key evidence. According to the document, Dutch merchants from Amsterdam claimed ownership of the cargo of the merchant ship "Dom van Keulen," which sank off the English coast while en route from Morocco to Amsterdam.

The record also stated that the ship was carrying approximately 9,000 Moroccan gold coins, gum arabic, saltpeter, and goatskins. At the time, crew members testified that after encountering a fierce storm, they abandoned the ship and escaped, leaving behind the valuable cargo.

Artifacts carried on a shipwreck discovered under the sea in Salcombe Bay on the southern coast of England in 1995. The British Museum

As the time and location of the sinking, the Moroccan gold coins, and the Dutch artifacts found at the wreck matched precisely with the documentary record, the researchers concluded that this shipwreck was the Dom van Keulen. The team believes that the gold coins discovered in 1995 are part of the cargo that could not be salvaged at the time.

The British Museum assessed that this research goes beyond simply identifying the treasure ship. It serves as crucial evidence revealing the reality of the international trade network that connected Morocco, the Netherlands, and England in the 17th century, as well as the gold trade in North Africa. It also provides valuable material for understanding the economy and maritime trade of the Saadi dynasty era.

Meanwhile, the results of this research have been detailed in the academic book "From Morocco to the English Coast: The Story of the Dom van Keulen and Its Remarkable Cargo," recently published by the British Museum’s publishing division.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.