Madrid, Kingdom of Spain (Weltexpress). Portuguese archaeologist Alexandre Monteiro said: ‘We know of 250 ships with treasure.’ The newspaper Observador quoted him as saying this.
The archaeologist has compiled a database of shipwrecks near the coastal regions of mainland Portugal and in the surrounding waters of the Azores and Madeira. Since the 16th century, there have been about 8,620 of them.
‘I have documented about 7,500 wrecks along the mainland coast, 1,000 near the Azores and 120 near Madeira,’ he told the Portuguese news agency Lusa. ‘For example, I know that off the coast of Troia there is a Spanish ship from 1589 called Nossa Senhora do Rosario. I have researched its history and even know the name of the captain’s mother. According to official records, it was carrying 22 tons of gold and silver,’ Monteiro said.
Portugal was one of the most important colonial powers in the 15th and 16th centuries, with overseas territories in South America, Africa and the East Indies. The gradual decline of the Portuguese empire led to the emergence of independent states such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and others.
