Two ancient Dutch and British shipwrecks, sunken lighthouse discovered off the coast of Mexico
The shipwrecks were laden with ancient artefacts such as cannons, porcelain and more.
India Ashok By India Ashok
January 10, 2018 06:48 GMT
Archaeologists have discovered two ancient shipwrecks – an 18th century Dutch warship and a 19th century British steamboat – as well as a sunken lighthouse in the Yucatan Peninsula sea floor. The ancient wrecks were found off the coast of the Mexican town Sisal.
The shipwrecks were found laden with ancient artefacts, such as cannons, porcelain, cutlery and more, according to Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). Divers found "a total of 12 iron cannons whose dimensions - 2.5 meters long by almost half a meter in diameter - bear a resemblance to the artillery of the Dutch war frigates that sailed the West Indies in the 19th century," said archaeologist Helena Barba Meinecke, head of INAH's underwater archeology of the Yucatan Peninsula.
According to Barba, the crew of the Dutch warship, dubbed "Madagascar Cannons" likely pushed around four of the cannons overboard in efforts to save the sinking ship. The Dutch warship's sinking is referred to in a later dated 1722, from the then Yucataen governor Antonio de Cortaire. The letter reportedly blamed the lethal "north winds" for sinking of two Dutch ships carrying contraband merchandise. The Dutch and British crew were rescued and taken to Sisal.
It is still unclear as to which of the two warships was discovered and archaeologists are working to solve the puzzle.
More:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/two-ancient-dutch-british-shipwrecks-sunken-lighthouse-discovered-off-coast-mexico-1654512
Must have broken the hearts of the Dutch and Spanish to lose their cannons and their ability to murder thousands more Native Americans as they tried to protect their own homes and way of life.
