Search For Dead Bodies Turns Up Old Ship

Puerto Rican Police Divers Make Unexpected Archaeological Find

(AP)  Police divers checking a report of human remains off a Puerto Rican beach may have made an archaeological discovery: bones and possible artifacts from a colonial-era ship, officials in the U.S. island territory said Wednesday.

The divers found a cannon, pieces of a ship, human bones, a sword and a medal engraved with the name Isabel II, said Sgt. Angel Rivera Rodriguez, a spokesman for Puerto Rico's police department.

Divers were dispatched to Playa Monserrate, near the town of Luquillo on the island's Atlantic coast, after a fisherman reported finding what he thought were human remains, Rivera said.

The artifacts turned up in six different spots across the sea floor, said Laura del Olmo, director of archaeology at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, which sent a team of experts to the site.

So far, divers have recovered more than three dozen pieces, including a small silver cross, bottles, and fragments of wood and chain, which will be analyzed by the institute's experts, del Olmo said.

According to archeologists, the pieces appear to be from the 17th or 18th century but further analysis is required before their exact age can be confirmed, she said.

Divers planned to continue exploring the area for more artifacts, Sgt. Rivera said.

[hbevis]

The divers were on duty for the state so we will see if they get to claim the goods or if the them guumitt boys take it away from them.If they had used thier head they should left and came back at a later time and declared international salvage law.

Posted by tootall1014 at 08:21 PM : Jul 31, 2008

Maybe we could say that these Divers were Honest men.

[toolmangler-2009]

Was the Black Pearl...
Posted by OldThought at 06:19 PM : Jul 31, 2008


Aaaarrrrrrrr,, C''pin Jack Sparrow will keel-haul ye fer tellin.

[Netterz]

Was the Black Pearl...

[sociald63]

forget it - by the time the authorities verify these findings, the puerto ricans will grab these items and sell them in the black market

[susieq_13]

What an awesome find! I would love to come across history like that. Especially since it might be either the 17th or 18th century. ARG Matie!

[stn_sage]

It''s probably some ole'' Spanish beaujolais in the bottles, guaranteed to blind you, now!

[newsjunky5]

Any rum left in those bottles?

[newsjunky5]

That''s exciting. With all that sunken treasure they probably forgot all about the body they were looking for (new remains or from the wreck?). Do diving suits have pockets?

[rf35]

The bottles give it away...BUI (boating under the influence) claims more victims.

[barbaraf4]

It was probably a ferry boat.

[meanbiker]

Arrrrgh.. Beat to the booty again.. Argh..

[Gary Kempf]

I call Dibs on the wreck!