San Diego (ship)

The galleon San Diego, originally named San Antonio, began as a trading vessel before being converted into a warship for the Spanish Navy. In 1600, it engaged in battle with the Dutch ship Mauritius near the Philippines. Unfortunately, due to the heavy cannons on board, the San Diego was unable to effectively return fire and ultimately sank. Survivors of the sinking were reportedly attacked by the Dutch crew.

Fast forward to 1992, when French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio discovered the wreck of the San Diego. This extraordinary find led to the recovery of 34,407 artifacts, including Chinese porcelain, Japanese katanas, Portuguese cannons, and Mexican coins. Initially, these treasures were exhibited around the world before finding permanent homes at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila and the Naval Museum in Madrid.

The story of the San Diego is anchored in its transformation into a warship under the orders of Don Antonio de Morga, the Vice-Governor General of the Philippines. Despite having a larger crew and more firepower, the ship's flawed design ultimately caused it to sink during its battle with the Mauritius.

The discovery of the wreck was no small feat—it required extensive research and underwater exploration. The recovery process was meticulous, yielding a wealth of archaeological materials such as ceramics, stoneware jars, samurai sword parts, cannons, muskets, navigational instruments, and coins.

To preserve these artifacts, conservationists employed techniques such as desalination, chemical cleaning, and stabilization. The fascinating story of the San Diego and its treasures is captured in a documentary film titled "Die Schätze der San Diego – Tauchfahrt in die Vergangenheit" which showcases the remarkable archaeological findings from the wreck.