Marine archaeologists have uncovered what could be one of the most significant maritime discoveries off the coast of Kenya – possibly the remains of the São Jorge, a Portuguese galleon from Vasco da Gama’s last voyage that disappeared beneath the waves in 1524.
The remarkable find, located about 1,600 feet from shore near Malindi, rests under just 20 feet of water. Local fishermen first alerted researchers to the site in 2013, leading to preliminary investigations by Caesar Bita, an underwater archaeologist with the National Museums of Kenya.
“I think this is a unique shipwreck,” explains Filipe Castro, a maritime archaeologist at Portugal’s University of Coimbra. “It’s a treasure.” Castro joined the research team last March, bringing his expertise to study what may be one of the oldest European shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean.
The impressive size of the ship surprised the researchers. “It is larger than what we imagined for an early 16th-century ship,” Castro notes. “It is enormous. The first feeling you get when you look at it is that it will take time to dig it. Carefully, minding the details.“
The archaeological team recovered numerous artifacts, including elephant tusks and copper ingots, suggesting the ship dates to the first quarter of the 16th century. These findings are consistent with the timeline of da Gama’s third and final voyage to India in 1524, when he commanded a fleet of 20 ships, including the São Jorge.
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The discovery has special historical significance given da Gama’s pioneering role. In 1497, on behalf of the Portuguese crown, he became the first European to establish a sea route between Europe and India by sailing around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. This achievement ushered in Portugal’s golden age of maritime trade.
The wreckage, now largely hidden by coral, presents both challenges and opportunities for researchers. Through careful excavation, they have recovered timbers from the ship’s hull and frame by digging trenches. But much remains unknown about the ship’s orientation and structure.
Sean Kingsley, maritime archaeologist and editor of Wreckwatch magazine, emphasizes the significance of the discovery: “Kenya served through the centuries to tap into the dazzling wonders of the Indies. Any early European shipwrecks found there are hot property.“
While the researchers believe it could be the São Jorge, they acknowledge another possibility – the Nossa Senhora da Graça, which sank in 1544. To confirm the ship’s identity, the team plans to conduct extensive archaeological surveys of the surrounding coral reefs.
The University of Coimbra highlights the “significant historical and symbolic value” of the wreck, which represents da Gama’s presence in Kenyan waters. In the future, researchers plan to turn the site into an underwater museum, allowing visitors to explore this important piece of maritime history.
The discovery provides unprecedented insight into Portuguese naval engineering at the time. Records from 1513 indicate that these ships were built for both commercial and military purposes, with artillery placed around three to four masts for omni-directional defensive capabilities.