The Colombian government has started exploring a sunken 18th Century Spanish galleon that's believed to be loaded with billions of dollars worth of treasure.
The South American nation has also declared a protected archaeological area around the San José galleon - which was sunk by the British Royal Navy in 1708 in the Caribbean Sea.
The ship, whose ownership remains contested, was carrying one of the largest hauls of valuables ever lost at sea when it was attacked just outside of the Colombian city of Cartagena.
It is estimated to be laden with as much as $20 billion in treasure. At the time, the vessel had been transporting its precious cargo to the Spanish king to help pay for his war against the British.
The first stage of the research project - described as a "characterisation phase" - will use remote sensors and underwater robots to generate images of the site to build an inventory of the archaeological material on the seabed.
Subsequent phases will depend on what comes to light in this first phase of the project, it added. However, President Gustavo Petro has made it a priority to lift the vessel before his term comes to an end in 2026.
It has apparently been dubbed the “Holy Grail of shipwrecks” for the huge amounts of information it could offer about the early 1700s. But, let's face it, billions of dollars of treasure surely adds to the allure. Previous research suggests the ship is loaded with gold, silver, emeralds, intact Chinese porcelain, pottery and cannons.
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