A group of Americans are working with Ecuadorian archaeologists to recover artifacts from a Spanish ship dating to the early 1600�s. Wreckage is spread over a large area in relatively shallow water which is typical of ships that were wrecked in hurricanes. They were driven up onto the shore or into a reef, then literally torn apart by wind and waves in the shallow water. The first step for the archaeologists was to map the site using a magnetometer, a super sensitive metal detector that locates iron and steel objects. A magnetic map of the area was produced showing where the concentrations of iron targets, like cannons, were buried.

Joel Ruth is one of the Americans involved in the project. He reports, "To date we have recovered 26 arquebuses (cannons), several with barrels stuck vertically into the seafloor. Some of them are in a remarkable state of preservation. According to our research there were regulations dictating how much of military force was to required to accompany ships carrying precious cargo. We believe the cannon are from warships that were providing protection for the treasure galleons. If we�re right there should be at least 14 more cannon down there."

What the magnetometer survey couldn�t tell the archaeologists, was where the precious metal objects were located. A decision was made to bring in a metal detector which would be capable of locating the nonferrous objects like gold and silver bars. The area was resurveyed using a Fisher Pulse 10 boat-towed metal detector. Ruth was one of the operators of the detector. Early in the search operation he reported, "I feel we are in an area consisting of forward hull material and a weapons store. This area registered one magnetometer reading and five from the Pulse 10. After completing verification of objects in the current hole, we will begin trenching diagonally towards another huge mass which was detected by the Pulse 10. The anomalies ahead are exclusively nonferrous in nature as the magnetometer registered nothing at that location."

In his latest report Joel excitedly said, "Yesterday we uncovered a chest!" But the chest turned out to be more of a case. "All this work is taking place in zero visibility conditions and by braille search techniques, so you have to forgive our earlier rough estimations of what was then still mostly buried in clay." As it turned out the case is made of red mahogany and appears to filled with rapier blades (swords)...or at least that is what is showing at the one end I chipped away. What is interesting is that these foils are stainless steel and in perfect condition. Stainless steel, especially Toledo steel, was a very expensive and rare commodity in 1612. It was usually reserved for making the finest blades and swords. What appears to have preserved these so well is a large iron spike which fell atop the case and has acted as sort of a sacrificial anode, bearing the brunt of the sea�s galvanic electrolysis process while sparing the contents of the case. The nails holding the case together also appear to have performed the same function. The entire concretion may eventually be dissolved in muriatic acid and the contents extracted and conserved."

"After removal of the box the entire excavation continued to read positive for nonferrous metal so the diver continued to blow the clay away with a high pressure water hose and trenched two feet deeper in the clay. What he discovered is a concentrated mass of shipwreck material which appears to be several yards wide in diameter and at least 8 inches to a foot thick. He cleared quite a big patch of it, and again due to zero visibility, was unable to determine while underwater what it was. But the Pulse 10 screams across the entire exposed area."

"The weather has now taken a turn for the worse, keeping us from getting back on site. As soon as it breaks, we�ll return and attempt to separate and raise a bigger chunk of this mass. We need to find out if the contents are consistent with the first sample, but more importantly to see if there is even more material buried deeper beneath this huge concretion. There is a lot of treasure hidden somewhere on this site, and we intend to find it."

For more information on this project or any of Fishers underwater metal detection systems, contact Christopher Combs at JW Fishers Mfg. Inc., 1953 County St., East Taunton, MA 02718, USA. Phone: (800) 822-4744 or (508) 822-7330. Fax: (508) 880-8949. E-mail to jwfishers@aol.com or check out the web site at www.jwfishers.com.