Artifacts from Nuestra Señora de Atocha

Artifacts from Nuestra Señora de Atocha

Some of the recovered artifacts include forks, spoons, and a plate.

During the age of Spanish exploration and colonization, treasure fleets regularly made trips to the Americas to deliver and collect treasures, including the many precious metals South America had to offer. In late summer these ships would join the war galleons, in Havana, Cuba to form the treasure fleet and return to Spain. However, these ships were often scattered due to bad weather, poor "seamanship", or piracy. In 1622, the ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha, carrying tons of Spanish treasure, wrecked on the Florida coral reefs near the Dry Tortugas. There were only five survivors.

Library of Congress

Jay Islak Collection

1622