Jun 08 2009
500 Million Dollar Sunken Treasure - Back to Spain?
Spain wants back its sunken treasure that was found by an American salvage team (Odyssey Marine Exploration.) and they mean business. In 2007, the US based diving company salvaged 500,000 silver and gold coins from the Strait of Gibraltar. Spain testifies that the warship Mercedes belongs to Spain meaning everything inside is rightfully theirs. A judge based out of Tampa, FL apparently agrees with Spain, making the ruling that the rightful owners of the treasure is Spain.
Spain’s representative went on to elaborate that people should “respect the resting place of sailors who died at sea.” He also went on to say that the Mercedes is the Spanish equivalent of the USS Arizona which was sunk in Pearl Harbor, questioning the morality of it being “OK” for another country to strip the site.
This case will ultimately determine the future of underwater claims. The UN is making drafts now that would make it illegal to commercially exploit vessels, artifacts, and human remains that were continuously underwater for 100 days or more. If this ruling passes the treasures will become “underwater cultural heritage,” meaning the country’s owners are the only people that can salvage the claim.
My thoughts are two fold, one part agreeing that there should be some restrictions on where and what can be salvaged for commercial exploitation. The other part of me thinks of all of the hard work, time, and money that goes into these salvage operations. They do all of the work of finding a wreckage just to have it taken from them. Where can the line be drawn between the two?
Image from REUTERS/Anton Meres
I might have some sympathy for Odyssey Marine Exploration if they hadn’t been so dishonest throughout the whole affair. Spain issued repeated notices and instituted litigation (La Galega and Juno) to the effect that its sunken warships were off limits. Odyssey researched the Mercedes, went looking for it, found it, took as much gold and silver as it could find, secretly moved the treasure to the United States, then brought the admiralty action. It then pretended that the wreck couldn’t be identified (Odyssey specifically failed to raise the cannon which would have cinched the identification). The officers of Odyssey knew from the beginning that they were looting a site that the Spanish Government considered to be a war grave. Over two hundred Spanish sailors and marines died on that spot fighting for their country. Although their flesh has decayed and their bones have dissolved, it is still a grave site. If we allow a commercial venture to dishonor another country’s war dead, we cannot expect other countries to allow ours to rest in peace.
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If they disrespect the treasure hunters, there will never be claims. Future treasure hunters will probably melt down the gold then sell it.
I agree with Peter,
I’m from Spain, and feel greatly offended at the behavior of the Odyssey expedition.
I currently live in Canada and recently went on a trip to the U.S. to see Gettysburg and Antietam. I felt incredibly moved at the ultimate sacrafice made by 50 thousand men.
Would it be proper for me to go digging around there for possible memorabilia. I would never dream of offending another persons culture, especially on a subject so sensitive to the american people.
So how is it right that people come steal from out grave yards in spain, be 10 years old or 2000 years.
Regards.
I CAN AGREE WITH MR. ASENSIO, THAT GRAVE YARDS SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND PROTECTED. I WONDER HOW MUCH RESPECT THE SPANISH CONQUERORS AND MILITARY GAVE THE NATIVE POPULATIONS OF THE NEW WORLD BEFORE THEY STOLE THEIR GOLD, RAPED THEIR WOMAN, AND KILLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN THE NAME OF SPAIN?
WILL SPAIN TAKE THE NEWLY FOUND TREASURE AND RE-INTERN IT? I DOUBT IT. IF THEY DID I COULD AT LEAST RESPECT THEM FOR CONFORMING TO THEIR STATED NATIONAL POSITION ON MARINE GRAVEYARDS. I THINK THE WEALTH SHOULD BE USED TO HELP REPAY THE COMMUNITIES DESTROYED BY SPAIN SO LONG AGO. THE DECENDANTS EXIST TODAY, MOST IN POVERTY.
Yes, dinosaur ghosts walk the earth still angry that we dug them up and nicely put them on display. Close down the museums, bury it all back in the ground. Remove any sense of adventure and imagination from your soul.
Simple question to Spain…. Where did you get all that treasure?? Maybe you will return it to the Americas…
To “Let’s be Real”:
You’re right…very good reply. I almost forgot that aspect of the situation. Spain, stole a lot, spread disease and killed many of the indigenous people for their wealth. Their war dead should be respected, but not for the plundering of a nation!
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