The Colombian government announced on Friday (23/2) the mission to remove objects of “incalculable value” from the legendary San Jose galleon wreck that sank in 1708 while laden with gold, silver and emeralds estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

The wreck, which is 316 years old, was discovered in 2015 although the exact location is a state secret and is often called the “holy grail” of shipwrecks, it is a subject of controversy because it has both archaeological and economic value.

#Colombia’s government announced plans for a deep-water expedition to explore the mythical #Spanish galleon San Jose, sunk in the 18th century in the country’s northern #Caribbean and believed to contain cargo valued at billions of dollars. #shipwrecks #marinetreasure #US #Spain pic.twitter.com/f0i3hhM6O7

— China Daily Hong Kong (@CDHKedition) February 27, 2024

Between April and May, the underwater robot expedition.

Culture Minister Juan David Correa told Agence France-Presse that more than eight years after the discovery of the wreck off the Colombian coast, an underwater robot will be sent to recover part of the treasure.

Between April and May, the robot will take some objects from the “surface of the galleon” to see “what happens to them when they come out of the water and to figure out what we can do” to recover the rest of the treasures, Colombia’s culture minister explained.

In 1708, a gold, silver, and precious jewel-laden Spanish galleon, the San José, was sunk just south of the Colombian coast in 1708 by the British Royal Navy squadron. 316 years later, the Colombian government plans to raise the sunken treasure.https://t.co/y5jCOxitOw

— craig ling (@craigling10) February 27, 2024

The operation will cost more than $4.5 million and the robot will work at a depth of 600 meters to remove objects such as ceramics, pieces of wood and shells “without altering or destroying the wreck,” Correa told Agence France-Presse.

A gold bar with mint marks that sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622 pic.twitter.com/zGZKXxPxxQ

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) February 27, 2024

The location of the expedition is being kept secret to protect – from malicious treasure hunters – what is considered one of the greatest archaeological finds in history.

In the first phase, the Colombian government does not plan to work with private companies, said Alena Caicento Fernandez, director general of the Colombian Institute of Archaeology and History (ICANH).