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American Prospector Claims to Have Found Columbus’ ‘Santa Maria’ Shipwreck
Underwater archaeologists have found a wreck that they are convinced belonged to Christopher Columbus’ fleet. Experts working with UNESCO take a different view.
In 1492, three ships — the “Santa Maria,” “Nina” and “Pinta” — set out from Palos de la Frontera in Andalusia. “Santa Maria” sank on a reef off the northern coast of Haiti on Christmas Day 1492. The surviving crew was to await Columbus’ return and at the same time search for gold in a fortress erected on the island called Navidad.
Columbus set out with the two remaining ships for help to Spain, and returned a year later with 17 ships and 1,200 men, but only ruins remained of the fort. To this day it is not known what happened to the crew of the “Santa Maria.”
Where did the Santa Maria sink?
“Santa Maria” was the most important ship of the 1492 expedition. Having reached Haiti, she settled on a shoal. Columbus left her there to die, transferring the crew to the other two ships. 39 people were instead thrown ashore in Haiti.
From the planks of the “Santa Maria” they built a fort, which they named La Navidad. The settlement did not last long, however. When Columbus returned to Europe, he called back to the island for his companions. However…
