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Lost 300-year-old ship carrying £101,000,000 worth of treasure sunk in pirate raid discovered

Caption: Lost 300-year-old ship carrying ?101,000,000 worth of treasure sunk in pirate raid found off the coast of Madagascar
credit: JamPress

Archaeologists have discovered a 300-year-old shipwreck with a hoard of treasure, but the fate of the 200 slaves on board remains unknown.

The Portuguese ship which is believed to be the Nossa Senhora do Cabo fell victim to pirates in 1721 off the coast of Madagascar.

It was transporting around 200 slaves and cargo from Goa, India, to Lisbon when it became involved in what is considered one of the most infamous pirate raids in history on the Portuguese empire.

But after 16 years of investigation, researchers at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation found the wreck in Ambodifotatra Bay, near the island of Nosy Boraha.

More than 3,300 artefacts have since been pulled from the site, which includes religious icons, pearls and treasure chests.

Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Ivory incised with the letters ?INRI? (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum). Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Ivory incised with the letters INRI (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum) (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)

An ivory plaque was also discovered with gold letters reading ‘INRI’, which is a Latin abbreviation for ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’.

Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Pottery fragments recovered from the site. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Pottery fragments recovered from the site (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)
Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Porcelain cups and ware fragments were found in situ at the wreck site. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Porcelain cups and ware fragments were found in situ at the wreck site (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)
Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Madonna statue. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Madonna statue (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)
Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Two gold coins, one originating from the Sherifian Empire and the other from the Ottoman Empire, minted between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Two gold coins, one originating from the Sherifian Empire and the other from the Ottoman Empire, minted between the late 17th and early 18th centuries (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)
Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Methods: Geophysical Survey and Subsurface Profiling. Side scan sonar imaging, corroborated by seismic profiles indicated a dense cluster of anomalies in close proximity to one another. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Pictured: Methods: Geophysical Survey and Subsurface Profiling (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)

Researchers Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini from Brown University who led the research said the haul is ‘eyewatering treasure, even by pirate standards’.

The haul could be worth £108 million in today’s currency.

Enslaved people who were forced to travel on the route were then made to work in ports and mines throughout the Portuguese Empire.

Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Maps showing the archaeological survey area near ?lot Madame within Ambodifotatra Bay. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Maps showing the archaeological survey area within Ambodifotatra Bay (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)
Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: Photomosaic of the excavation grid revealing the lower hull framework. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
Photomosaic of the excavation grid revealing the lower hull framework (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)
Story from Jam Press (Pirate Ship Treasure) Pictured: An ivory figurine of Christ in situ on the wreck of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo. Sunken pirate ship over 300 years old with 'eye-watering treasure' worth over ?101m discovered A sunken pirate ship that is over 300 years old and has a possible treasure onboard worth ?101m has been discovered. The find ? believed to be the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo ? was made by marine archeologists at the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation. The vessel was transporting cargo from Goa, India. It is thought to have been attacked by a group of pirates led by Captain Olivier ?The Buzzard? Levasseur on 8 April 1721. The Nossa Senhora Do Cabo was headed to Lisbon, Portugal, but never arrived as it sunk to a watery grave. The wreck was discovered in Ambodifotatra Bay near Nosy Boraha island in Madagascar. Researchers have been investigating the vessel for 16 years. Marine archeologists Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini PhD from Brown University shared an exciting update earlier this month (July). The vessel?s cargo, which contained ?eye-watering treasure? ??such as gold ingots and chests containing pearls ? could be worth over ?108m. Sadly, the Nossa Senhora Do Cabo also has a sad history. It is believed that around 200 enslaved people were onboard during the time of its journey. Their fate is not known, as reported by NeedToKnow. So far, 3,300 artefacts have been pulled from the wreckage including religious figurines and items. ENDS
An ivory figurine of Christ in situ on the wreck of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo (Picture: Jam Press/Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation)

Ships through the key route between India and Europe were often prime targets for pirates.

Pirates would also sell enslaved people for a profit.

It comes after Captain Cook’s missing ship, the HMS Endeavour, was found after 250 years.

For two centuries this ship has been lost, but now the wreck has been found in Newport Harbour, Rhode Island. The finding of the ship was announced in a report by the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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