There are lots of shipwrecks off the coast of the DR. And DPBE is one of only 2 companies right now searching for treasure in those waters. SO far we have found some decent things, but nothing that is what some would call the "motherlode". Does it exist? Well, the "other" company put this newsflash out TODAY. So there ARE important finds IN the DR that are being found. Love that someone found something, and hope the next one is found by DPBE!!
Article?
September 10, 2013 (MMD Newswire) -- A Florida based treasure hunting firm has discovered a 450 year old ship that wrecked off the Dominican coast, it's cargo is the single largest cache of 16th century pewter tableware ever discovered, and that's not all. The ship was also carrying unique and valuable artifacts including some extremely rare Spanish silver coins from the late 1400's through the mid 1500's and several gold artifacts too. Divers from Anchor Research and Salvage (a Global Marine Exploration, Inc. company) working with the Punta Cana Foundation discovered the wreck and are recovering the artifacts, of which 75% will soon be displayed in Dominican Museums. Anchor Research and Salvage crews carefully excavated the wreck site under contract from the Underwater Cultural Heritage division of the Dominican Minister of Culture's office.
The collection of pewter will re-write history books, as many of the maker's marks stamped into the fine pewter have never been seen before. The collection consists of many examples including plates, platters, porringers, salts and flagons in several sizes and styles. The pewter alone values into the millions, add to that the gold items, silver coins and trove of other artifacts from the time of the Conquistadors and you have a very valuable and important historic find.
Treasure Hunters find 16th century cache in shipwreck off Dominican Republic
Anchor Research and Salvage has also finished surveying a large lease area on the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic in which they found numerous previously undiscovered shipwrecks that are currently under investigation and recovery. Noted shipwreck archaeologist and author Sir Robert Marx estimates that there is several billion dollars in the southern coastal area alone, and three times that amount awaiting in Global Marine Exploration's future target areas.
CEO Robert Pritchett said "Sample artifacts from these newly discovered wrecksites indicate that we may have found an entire fleet of early Galleons that wrecked on their way back to Spain carrying the riches of the new world." Pritchett also mentions that negotiations are well underway for GME and it's companies to provide artifact rescue and excavation services in other countries as well. "GME's unique business model opens up a new age for cost-effective and archaeologically sensitive shipwreck exploration. Other countries are seeing how well we document and record the archaeological evidence in the Dominican Republic, and we are in talks with other nations in the Caribbean and beyond" said Pritchett.
