Archaeologists Discover Shipwreck From Vasco Da Gama’s Last Indian Ocean Voyage
In a remarkable discovery, researchers may have found the ship that carried the famous Portuguese explorer on his last voyage to the Indian Ocean.
The shipwreck, located near Malindi, Kenya, has caught the attention of many archaeologists. Although the wreck was discovered in 2013 in a coral reef about 500 meters off the Kenyan coast, it sank 500 years ago and is likely Vasco da Gama’s ship, the St. George.
Researchers from the University of Coimbra, the National Museums of Kenya and the Bergen Maritime Museum are working to confirm the identity of the ship.
A large number of artifacts were found on the wreck, and their findings were published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology. Notable artifacts include ivory, copper ingots and wood from the hull.
Vasco da Gama opened the way from Europe to the Indian Ocean and discovered the sea route connecting Europe and Africa for the first time. He also rounded the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa for the first time, promoting Portuguese trade in the Indian Ocean.
Vasco da Gama crossed the Indian Ocean four times, the last in 1524 with a fleet of 20 ships, including the St. George.
The St. George later sank in 1524, before Vasco da Gama died. According to researchers, it is one of the oldest shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean.
Preliminary dating of the artifacts suggests the ship was destined for India, researchers said.
To confirm that the ship is indeed Vasco da Gama’s, archaeologists will study the nearby coral reef, which stretches 25 kilometers from Malindi to Cape Ras Ngomeni.
There are many Portuguese shipwrecks in and around Malindi. In the 16th century, the Portuguese began building sailing ships for warfare and ocean exploration. These ships had three or four masts and could be equipped with cannons. This design, borrowed from Europe, changed the course of European expansion.
