It appears that the shipwreck discovered earlier this year off the coast of northern Haiti is not that of Christopher Columbus’ flagship, the Santa Maria, according to the UN cultural agency.
UNESCO released a report earlier this month that concluded that a shipwreck in the Caribbean was likely from a 17th or 18th century vessel.
US explorer Barry Clifford had announced in May that he believed he had found the Santa Maria near the city of Cap-Haitien.
The ship, Columbus’ flagship from his first voyage to the Western Hemisphere, struck a reef and was abandoned in December 1492. Columbus returned to Spain with his two remaining ships, the Niña and the Pinta, beginning in January 1493.
“UNESCO said a team of experts who explored the site at the request of the Haitian government determined the wreckage was from a more recent vessel for reasons that included the discovery of copper nails and pins, used to fasten ship components, at the site,” according to an Associated Press report. “The Santa Maria would have used components of iron or wood, the agency said.”
The experts also believe that contemporary accounts, including Columbus’ own journal, indicate that the wreck is too far from the shore to be that of the Santa Maria, according to CNN.
The report added that it is possible the actual wreckage of the Santa Maria may be buried under what is now land because of heavy sedimentation from nearby rivers. It also recommended further archaeological investigation of the area.
The Santa Maria wasn’t a very big ship by modern standards, being about 60 feet long and weighing about 100 tons.
Clifford still stands by claim, calling the UNESCO report flawed because the agency’s experts did not consult him or the photos and charts he and his associates made of the wreckage site, according to the wire service.
He also said the copper components could have been used on the Santa Maria or the material came from another shipwreck that cross-contaminated the site in an area where a number of ships are known to have sunk.
“The explorer had reached his conclusion based on the location of the wreckage, the presence of the type of stones used for ballast in that era as well as a type of cannon that was there when he first took photos of the site in 2003 but had apparently been looted when he returned this year,” according to the Associated Press.
In its report, UNESCO faulted Clifford for announcing his findings in the media before officially informing the Haitian government of his intention to continue his research in the bay of Cap-Haitien.
(Top: 1892 US postage stamp featuring the Santa Maria.)
The Cotton Boll Conspiracy 
Anything involving Chris Columbus turns out to be a shipwreck sooner or later it seems.
Ha! Yes, even Columbus Day is on the rocks.
aww, i was hopeful, what a find that would be –
It would he fascinating to locate it, wouldn’t it?
it so would!
Interesting post, as always, Cotton. Columbus was a writing man. He should have left specific instructions as to where he left his ship. Then we wouldn’t have this shroud of mystery and suspense for the past 500+ years. 🙂
Yes, a little more foresight on ol’ Chris’ part could have avoided a lot of aggravation, couldn’t it, Marsha?
No kidding. Even if he was off by a little bit, or it drifted, but oh well!