An underwater investigator in the US believes he has found the shipwreck of Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria
The shipwreck of Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria is believed to have been discovered by an underwater investigator from the US.
Barry Clifford has said that there is strong evidence to suggest that a ruin off Haiti’s north coast is the flagship of Columbus’ famed expedition.
Mr Clifford is now working with the government in Haiti to protect the site so that a more detailed investigation can be carried out.
“All the geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that this wreck is Columbus’ famous flagship, the Santa Maria,” said Mr Clifford.
“I am confident that a full excavation of the wreck will yield the first-ever detailed marine archaeological evidence of Columbus’ discovery of America.”
The underwater investigator says he was able to identify a potential location for the ship using earlier archaeological findings, as well as information from Christopher Columbus’ diary.
Mr Clifford’s theories were confirmed when a 15th Century cannon was found at the site.
The Haitian government is supporting an excavation of the wreck, which they hope will be able to confirm its identity.
The Santa Maria was lost during Columbus’ expedition in 1492 after running aground.
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