Unearthing an 18th-Century Shipwreck: A Stark Reminder of the Slave Trade’s Dark Legacy

IO_AdminUncategorized12 hours ago5 Views

### Fast Summary

– The Portuguese slave ship *São José Paquete d’Africa*, carrying 512 enslaved Mozambicans, sank near Cape Town, South Africa on December 27, 1794 during a storm.
– Approximately half of the enslaved individuals were rescued and sold into slavery in South Africa; 212 souls drowned in the incident.
– The surviving captives were treated as “salvaged cargo” by the crew seeking to recover financial losses from the voyage.
– The initial loss was largely forgotten until rediscovery efforts began in 2011 by underwater archaeologist Jaco Boshoff tied to archival research.
– In 2014, the remains of *São José* became the first identified wreck of a slave ship known to be carrying kidnapped peopel when it sank. Artifacts like iron ballast bars and shackles confirmed its identity.
– This discovery is part of broader efforts by initiatives such as the Slave Wrecks Project (launched in 2008) aimed at locating and preserving archaeological remains tied to transatlantic enslavement histories.

#### broader Context:
– over nearly four centuries,more than 12 million africans were forced into migration via ships during transatlantic slavery-close to two million perished en route. Few slave trade shipwrecks have been located or preserved despite an estimated thousand incidents globally.
– Efforts are underway worldwide-including contributions from Mozambique-dedicated not purely memorial worldspot artifacts – but integration relationally attending wounded historic-geographical-social narrative clarity e systemic owngevity alongside new NOW territories-injustice clarity moments/actions impulses catalysitable.

![Portuguese-built fortress cannons – major historic keypoint Figury + Story undyebug UNwarn context layer](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/439c84bf-b42b-43ee-aa22):

0 Votes: 0 Upvotes, 0 Downvotes (0 Points)

Leave a reply

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Stay Informed With the Latest & Most Important News

I consent to receive newsletter via email. For further information, please review our Privacy Policy

Advertisement

Loading Next Post...
Follow
Sign In/Sign Up Sidebar Search Trending 0 Cart
Popular Now
Loading

Signing-in 3 seconds...

Signing-up 3 seconds...

Cart
Cart updating

ShopYour cart is currently is empty. You could visit our shop and start shopping.