The wreck of Columbus' Santa Maria is still undiscovered.
October 9, 2014 9:57 AM Subscribe
Earlier this year, Underwater explorer Barry Clifford claimed to have found the Santa Maria, one of Christopher Columbus' three ships, off the coast of Haiti. But a few days ago, A UNESCO mission of experts has concluded that a shipwreck is actually from a much later period, citing the bronze or copper fasteners found on the site that point to shipbuilding techniques of the late 17th or 18th centuries, and the journal of Columbus (translated text online; Archive.org scan of the 1893 translation from the Hakluyt Society), which indicates that this wreck is too far from the shore to be the La Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción. Despite this setback, Haiti will continue to search for the historic shipwreck.
I rather enjoy the timing of the UNESCO report clarifying "you didn't find what you thought you found," just in time for Columbus Day.
You know who else didn't find what he thought he'd found? All very appropriate, really.
posted by yoink at 10:16 AM on October 9, 2014 [9 favorites]
You know who else didn't find what he thought he'd found? All very appropriate, really.
posted by yoink at 10:16 AM on October 9, 2014 [9 favorites]
Bummer!
posted by brundlefly at 10:20 AM on October 9, 2014
posted by brundlefly at 10:20 AM on October 9, 2014
And now that I think about it, that was the joke you were making. D'oh!
posted by yoink at 10:23 AM on October 9, 2014
posted by yoink at 10:23 AM on October 9, 2014
Yes, that was my subtle jab at people celebrating Columbus' "discovery" of what was probably Watling Island in the Bahamas, currently known as San Salvador Island.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:30 AM on October 9, 2014
posted by filthy light thief at 10:30 AM on October 9, 2014
Pfft. Everyone knows the Santa Maria washed ashore near the dolphin tank in West Edmonton Mall.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:42 AM on October 9, 2014
posted by Sys Rq at 10:42 AM on October 9, 2014
Everyone knows the best place to look for historical shipwrecks is in northern Canada.
posted by goatdog at 11:02 AM on October 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by goatdog at 11:02 AM on October 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm curious how Haiti views Columbus, overall, particularly given that the population is largely of African and European descent. Does anyone have a handle on that?
posted by dhartung at 11:27 AM on October 9, 2014
posted by dhartung at 11:27 AM on October 9, 2014
You know who else didn't find what he thought he'd found? All very appropriate, really.
Not really sure what Hitler has to do with this.
posted by Sangermaine at 11:41 AM on October 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Not really sure what Hitler has to do with this.
posted by Sangermaine at 11:41 AM on October 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm curious how Haiti views Columbus, overall, particularly given that the population is largely of African and European descent. Does anyone have a handle on that?
I'm guessing they are pretty conflicted. If he hadn't made his voyages, the inhabitants would not exist but on the other hand, the slavery and genocide that enabled their existence would also not have occurred.
posted by Renoroc at 11:58 AM on October 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing they are pretty conflicted. If he hadn't made his voyages, the inhabitants would not exist but on the other hand, the slavery and genocide that enabled their existence would also not have occurred.
posted by Renoroc at 11:58 AM on October 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Not really sure what Hitler has to do with this.
UNESCO told him it wasn't the real Spear of Longinus and he reacted badly [link to Downfall clip]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:03 PM on October 9, 2014
UNESCO told him it wasn't the real Spear of Longinus and he reacted badly [link to Downfall clip]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:03 PM on October 9, 2014
Previously (at least in terms of the original claim of discovery now being debunked, expected Mefiish har-hars, the supposed cause of the wreck ("The Real Reason Columbus' Ship Crashed That Historians Don't Want YOU to Know"; sorry), and a discussion of who owns wrecks like this).
posted by aught at 12:31 PM on October 9, 2014
posted by aught at 12:31 PM on October 9, 2014
There are various Caribbean nations which celebrate a "Discovery Day" commemorating Columbus' voyage, one of which is apparently Haiti, but idk how they feel about it particularly.
posted by poffin boffin at 12:54 PM on October 9, 2014
posted by poffin boffin at 12:54 PM on October 9, 2014
Everyone knows the best place to look for historical shipwrecks is in northern Canada.
Every Inuit knows that, certainly.
posted by wreckingball at 5:44 PM on October 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Every Inuit knows that, certainly.
posted by wreckingball at 5:44 PM on October 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Some people like making igloos, but I'm not really Inuit.
posted by Twang at 8:37 PM on October 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Twang at 8:37 PM on October 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
Ouch, Twang. But I'll be borrowing that when the occasion arises.
I'm wondering how I've gotten to be a half-century old without having until now learned the full name of the Santa Maria. Protestant school teachers, I suppose.
posted by bryon at 11:34 PM on October 9, 2014
I'm wondering how I've gotten to be a half-century old without having until now learned the full name of the Santa Maria. Protestant school teachers, I suppose.
posted by bryon at 11:34 PM on October 9, 2014
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Also, if you're wondering what those old pictures of ships are, they're from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, when replicas of the Niña , Pinta and Santa Maria were built in Spanish shipyards and sailed to Chicago.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:15 AM on October 9, 2014 [1 favorite]