Buried beneath the sands of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, one of the most extraordinary maritime discoveries in history was uncovered in 2008. Miners searching for diamonds stumbled upon the wreck of the Bom Jesus, a Portuguese ship that vanished in 1533 during a voyage from Lisbon to India. Amazingly well-preserved, the ship was loaded with treasures, including over 100 elephant tusks, 2,000 copper ingots, and a chest of Spanish and Portuguese gold coins valued at around $13 million. It is believed that the shipwreck occurred close to shore and was gradually swallowed by the ever-shifting desert dunes over the centuries. The Bom Jesus stands today as a remarkable Renaissance-era time capsule, offering a rare and breathtaking glimpse into 16th-century maritime history."

Sources: National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, CNN.

Credit: Ceausu Cristian