Back in March of 2016 I posted a couple of blogs about the location of part of Vasco da Gama’s fleet off the coast of Oman by David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries, LTD working for the Ministry of Heritage and Culture. Da Gama’s uncles, Vicente and Bras Sodre were responsible for the fleet. The ships found were the ESMERALDA and SAO PEDRO, both Portuguese naus. Naus were 3 or 4 masted sailing ships developed during the 14th and 15th centuries. They were used primarily to sail the African coasts before branching out to India and the Americas. Both were lost in a violent storm in May 1503 at Al Hallaniyah island with much loss of life including Vicente. In the first week of January (3rd-6th) after the new year David and the archaeological team from the expedition attended the Society for Historical Archaeology Conference in New Orleans. A paper detailing the history of the fleet, the process of the expedition and the artifacts found was presented by David and his team and can be downloaded and read on the website at this link: http://esmeraldashipwreck.com/archaeology/
Not only can you read the paper, but there are some amazing video links at the bottom of the page. Watch how they move huge heavy boulders from the site under water. Hear and see David as the Omani military helicopter delivers a new air compressor to the group. He takes a pretty good pelting from rocks and sand trying to video the event!
For more videos of other parts of the expedition, follow this link: http://esmeraldashipwreck.com/videos/
To me, it’s fun and fascinating to watch them work underwater, to see the equipment they use and to make some amazing discoveries of rare artifacts. Many of the videos are narrated by David and his excitement in the work is palatable. Personally, I’d love to be on the deck of the ship hunkered over a screen pulling out artifacts and working on a little sorting and cataloging. I have some experience with this being my degree is in anthropology and archaeology (hint, hint). Just sayin’. :o)
While David was in New Orleans he had the pleasure of a couple of meetings with Kevin Wheeler, son of Lt. Jg. Virgil Wheeler, a gunnery officer on STRONG. My husband Greg and I met Kevin in December and were able to help set this up. Anytime we meet a new family member it reinforces what we’re trying to do here. We’re honored to add Kevin to the STRONG family, and to have helped him meet David.
If we do manage to get to STRONG one day, David will be the guy. Our goal this year, the 75th anniversary of the sinking of STRONG is to be more pugnacious in pursuing some funding and sponsorship of the expedition. Anyone with ideas or connections to philanthropic organizations who might want to help out, let me know. We have some ideas and connections that may be helpful, but any new input is welcome. Perhaps when David comes over to promote his book The Shipwreck Hunter in mid-summer, we can make some good connections.
Enjoy the videos and reading about this amazing expedition!
-Tammi
Map below from ESMERALDA expedition website.
Photo of Portuguese nau from Wikipedia.
Not only can you read the paper, but there are some amazing video links at the bottom of the page. Watch how they move huge heavy boulders from the site under water. Hear and see David as the Omani military helicopter delivers a new air compressor to the group. He takes a pretty good pelting from rocks and sand trying to video the event!
For more videos of other parts of the expedition, follow this link: http://esmeraldashipwreck.com/videos/
To me, it’s fun and fascinating to watch them work underwater, to see the equipment they use and to make some amazing discoveries of rare artifacts. Many of the videos are narrated by David and his excitement in the work is palatable. Personally, I’d love to be on the deck of the ship hunkered over a screen pulling out artifacts and working on a little sorting and cataloging. I have some experience with this being my degree is in anthropology and archaeology (hint, hint). Just sayin’. :o)
While David was in New Orleans he had the pleasure of a couple of meetings with Kevin Wheeler, son of Lt. Jg. Virgil Wheeler, a gunnery officer on STRONG. My husband Greg and I met Kevin in December and were able to help set this up. Anytime we meet a new family member it reinforces what we’re trying to do here. We’re honored to add Kevin to the STRONG family, and to have helped him meet David.
If we do manage to get to STRONG one day, David will be the guy. Our goal this year, the 75th anniversary of the sinking of STRONG is to be more pugnacious in pursuing some funding and sponsorship of the expedition. Anyone with ideas or connections to philanthropic organizations who might want to help out, let me know. We have some ideas and connections that may be helpful, but any new input is welcome. Perhaps when David comes over to promote his book The Shipwreck Hunter in mid-summer, we can make some good connections.
Enjoy the videos and reading about this amazing expedition!
-Tammi
Map below from ESMERALDA expedition website.
Photo of Portuguese nau from Wikipedia.
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