No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaShipwrecks in Costa Rica Confirmed as Danish Slave Ships from 1710

Shipwrecks in Costa Rica Confirmed as Danish Slave Ships from 1710

The National Museum of Denmark has confirmed that two 18th-century shipwrecks in Cahuita National Park, long thought to be pirate ships, are the Danish slave ships Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, which sank in 1710. The identification was announced on Sunday, resolving decades of speculation about the wrecks off Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.

The ships were identified through underwater excavations in 2023, which analyzed ship timbers, cargo blocks, clay pipes, and other artifacts. In 2015, U.S. archaeologists from East Carolina University discovered yellow bricks, specific to Danish manufacturing in Flensburg, among the wreckage, prompting renewed investigation. The wrecks, located on coral reefs near Puerto Limón in Cahuita National Park, were first documented in the 1970s but misidentified as pirate vessels based on local assumptions.

Historical records indicate the Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus departed Copenhagen in December 1708, bound for the Danish West Indies via West Africa. They carried cloth, metal goods, and weapons to trade for enslaved Africans. In 1710, after navigational errors, the ships struck reefs off what was then called Punta Carreto. One ship caught fire, and the other was abandoned after its anchor cable was cut. Excavations confirmed charred wood and Danish cargo, aligning with these accounts.

David Gregory, a marine archaeologist at the National Museum of Denmark, stated, “The cargo blocks are Danish, as is the wood, which is charred and covered in soot from the fire. This matches historical accounts.” Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch, another marine archaeologist, emphasized the excavation’s importance for understanding Denmark’s maritime history and its relevance to Costa Rica.

The project, supported by Denmark’s Njord research center, involved collaboration with East Carolina University, the University of Costa Rica, and Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC). It marks Costa Rica’s first underwater archaeological excavation. The wreck sites are restricted to non-invasive tours to protect the artifacts and marine environment.

Approximately 690 enslaved Africans were aboard the ships, with historical records noting that around 100 were recaptured and sent to cacao plantations in Matina, while others escaped. The discovery provides new insight into the region’s colonial history and the transatlantic slave trade. SINAC plans to incorporate the findings into educational programs at Cahuita National Park.

Trending Now

Compassion in Costa Rica: Tales from The Bribri and The Bridge

The book The Bribri and The Bridge: Tales from Life with the Indigenous People of Costa Rica is both a celebration and a portrait of...

Back North from Costa Rica: An Expat’s Culture Shock

I am presently away from Costa Rica. I am in a foreign country. I was born here, but it is now a different place...

Riu Guanacaste Hotel Reopens in Costa Rica After Renovation

The Riu Guanacaste hotel in Costa Rica has reopened after a complete renovation, welcoming guests back to its beachfront spot on Matapalo Beach. The...

Costa Rica Court Orders Urgent Regulation of Tuna Fishing Law

Costa Rica's Constitutional Court has stepped in to push the government on a long-delayed tuna fishing law. The court partially backed an appeal from...

Costa Rican Congressman Faces Sexual Abuse Allegations from 2006

Fabricio Alvarado, a sitting congressman and presidential hopeful for the New Republic Party, now contends with a formal complaint accusing him of sexually abusing...

How the US Shutdown Could Disrupts Travel to Costa Rica

As the US federal government enters a partial shutdown starting today October 1, travelers heading to Costa Rica face potential hurdles. The impasse stems...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica