In 2008, the discovery of a Portuguese ship missing since 1533 in Namibia’s desert became a remarkable archaeological find. Departing from Lisbon, the ship, named Bom Jesus, vanished until diamond mining revealed its remnants near the shore. Despite a powerful storm indication, the absence of human remains suggests the crew either drowned or escaped. Dr. Noli remarked, “It adds new meaning to the concept of the ship having been loaded with gold.” Investigations uncovered bronze bowls and metal poles, later identified as cannons.
The wreckage held ancient artifacts like swords, astrological instruments, and a 500-year-old musket. Experts believe the ship sailed from Lisbon to Western India, following a common route for similar Portuguese vessels. The Bom Jesus stands as the most valuable and ancient shipwreck off Sub-Saharan Africa’s Western coast, now guarded in Namibia’s forbidden territory due to diamond prospecting. The possibility of a museum remains uncertain.
