by Daniela Vargas Ariza
Many sites around the world have been harmed because they were targeted for profit rather than for research. When objects are valued mainly for their economic worth, we miss out on the rich and diverse stories they can tell. These material remains are not merely passive traces of the past—they are active sources of knowledge that can challenge popular or media-driven versions of history.
This tension is especially evident in the case of the San José galleon. While it is often remembered for legends of wealth and sunken treasure, recent historical and archaeological research reveals much deeper and more meaningful stories. Resting over 600 meters beneath the Caribbean Sea, this well-preserved wreck offers rare insight into daily life, trade, and conflict in the early 18th century.
Read the full article on the Cambridge Core Blog:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/blog/2025/07/18/into-the-heart-of-the-san-jose-galleon-where-gold-meets-archaeology/
