Explorer Barry Clifford Believes Santa Maria Shipwreck Located Off Haiti
Posted on May 14, 2014
Explorer Barry Clifford thinks he has found Christopher Columbus' ship, the Santa Maria, off the coast of Haiti. The ship sank in 1492 on Christmas Day. Some of the wood from the ship was used to build a fort. The anchor of the ship is currently in the Musee du Pantheon National Haitien (MUPANAH) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The discovery was first reported here in The Independent. NPR notes that Clifford has located famous shipwrecks before. In 1984 he located the pirate ship Whydah, which was wrecked in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Clifford is talking with Haiti President Michel Martelly to get approval to excavate the ancient sunken ship. The shipwreck is located about 10 to 15 feet deep in a reef about five miles from the shore.
Clifford tells CNN he is "extremely confident" his team has discovered the wreck site. Clifford says a particular type of cannon, a lombard, that was on the Santa Maria is visible in the shipwreck. Take a look:
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