Toll Free 800-650-9030 International 239-948-6915
Order By Fax 239-949-9537
Toll Free 800-650-9030 International 239-948-6915
Order By Fax 239-949-9537
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Atocha Coins Atocha Jewelry Atocha Rings Atocha Bracelets
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Removing concretions is a slow and painstaking process requiring hours of gentle hammering, chipping and picking. The method is known as mechanical removal of encrustation. At this stage it is not important if all the concretion is removed, since each metal artifact dislodged must then be treated to stabilize its structure Sc that it can be displayed as is or, if necessary, be reconstructed. Over the years, Treasure Salvors, Inc. has raised frcm the seabed a number of interesting conglomerates from the sites of Nuestra Sencra de Atocha and the Santa Margarita, sunk in 1622. one was a chest of silver coins weighing 109 pounds and eventually yielding some 2300 silver coins. |
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| When the hull structure of the Santa Margarita was uncovered a conglomerate weighing close to two tons sat atop a portion of the articulated remains. This was put aboard the salvage vessel with some difficulty. When it arrived in port a crane transferred the mass to a flatbed truck, which brought it to the conservation facilities where mechanical removal began. Slowly cannon ball after cannon ball appeared, finally numbering over 250. other items found were a wood dowel, four fine silver coins, crystal beads, glass fragments, and bone (not human) —— in all a very interesting piece to clean. | |
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Another memorable conglomerate was a squat, pear—shaped clump of coins. Carefully, each coin was extracted from the mass of sulfided conglomerate- Then, unexpectedly, toward the middle, a glint of gold. Ever so gently the black crust that had surrounded this piece for nearly four centuries was removed. There, in the middle of a clump that looked much like the shape of a drawstring purse, was a gold scallop shell pendant- When it was opened, the underside of the top shell was a field of enameled blue with glod stars showing through the initials: YE. Surmounted over all was the cross of Santiago de Compostela, emblem of an order of knighthood in the days of Imperial Spain. How beautifully things hidden in concretions speak to us of the past.
Archaeologist Jim Sinclair follows the treasure trail from seabed to display case. |
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