Klao Bell, Staff Reporter
THERE are dozens of ships lying at the bottom of Jamaica's waters which, archaeologists say, are laden with riches.
The country could be made much wealthier not just from the gold on those sunken vessels, but also because of the vast historical information they hold, the experts claim.
There are wrecks under the Kingston Harbour, of historical value...in the 17th century Port Royal was the most important English city in the world, with more than 200 vessels visiting every year. There is even a ship in the underwater city (of Port Royal) said to be the HMS SWAN - a pirate ship that may have gone down in 1722 -- (and) the famous one at Pedro Banks called the Genevesoa which was sunk around 1740 carrying the entire gold and silver from the mines of Peru," said Dorrick Gray, the deputy technical director of archaeology at the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT).
Mr. Gray said that the country needs an inventory of the ships around the coast.
"What is needed in (Jamaica) is an inventory of our underwater cultural heritage. We have done one in St. Ann's Bay but that is also needed in Kingston Harbour," he explained. "We did a survey and found seven or eight 18th to 19th century ships out there. There are also a lot of wrecks at Morant Keys, Pedro Banks."
He said that though the general area of the sunken ships is known, the exact locations are not.
Meanwhile, poachers have attempted to locate the Genevesoa in search of gold and treasure. The JNHT said it is not only concerned about possible loss of treasure, but also information. The JNHT is seeking to benefit from the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's, (UNESCO) thrust to create a convention that will protect underwater cultural heritage internationally.
