Namibia clams up over ‘delicate’ treasure ship talks

**Oneword** · 25th May 2008, 08:45 AM

The Namibian government has gagged senior mining and minerals personnel, banning them from talking about a shipwreck discovered in a restricted diamond mining zone.

Namibia and Portugal have held diplomatic talks over excavating the 16th century ship, believed to be Portuguese in origin, and considered to be the most significant maritime archaeological find in Southern Africa.

Portuguese Consul-General in South Africa, Dr Domingos Alvim, on Friday confirmed top-level contact with the Namibian government to facilitate the speedy excavation of the shipwreck site in the Sperrgebiet, south of Luderitz. The Portuguese are eager to assist in the excavation to ensure the best possible recovery of historically valuable items, he said.

Two of the artefacts are believed to be valuable navigational tools called nautical astrolabes, of which there are only about 30 left in the world.

The wreck, about 25m long, was unearthed two months ago by Namdeb, a mining company jointly owned by De Beers and the Namibian government. Namdeb spokesman Ndeshi Hangula-Shikwambi said: “Nam- deb is no longer allowed to do any communications. They ( government) want to take charge.”

There has been no shortage of speculation, however, with some experts saying the ship may have been part of a fleet commanded by Bartholomew Diaz, the first European to discover the Cape of Good Hope.

Subsequent reports suggest some gold coins found on the wreck were minted after 1525 and that the ship was more likely a Portuguese trading vessel on its way back from a colonial outpost on Africa’s east coast.

George Shinyala, Namibian Mines and Energy spokesman, said: “The government has sent a team of experts to look at the shipwreck — a collaboration with our National Heritage Council. We are waiting for (their) report ... Currently we don’t have anything to tell.”

Meanwhile, researchers all over the world are eagerly awaiting news . Senior curator at the world famous Maritime Museum in Lisbon, Bruno Goncalves Neves, said the wreck was of enormous significance, hence the delicate negotiations currently on the go. He said the museum would be delighted to receive any relics from the ship .

The Times

**Pietro** · 26th May 2008, 08:29 AM

Yes, and Namibia does have so many maritime experts and divers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Comrade007** · 27th May 2008, 10:18 AM

I would have thought that sine the items were discovered on Namibian soil they belong to the people of Namibia, not its Government and certainly not the Portuguese Government.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but our Government does not own anything - it is the steward of our nation's resources and acts on our behalf as steward of any relics found on our soil, too. As the people of Namibia we entrust this stewardship to our Government, so what they should do is recover the items and display them in a museum or such like. If the items are sold on, they funds should be put into the public coffer, and not anybody's private pockets.

**Oneword** · 27th May 2008, 10:48 AM

What I am used to is that the government in whose territorial waters the find falls usually has first claim and that the person finding it can be compensated anywhere from 25 - 50 % of the total value of the find. Some of them are even allowed to take their % out of the actual find.

I have not been able to find anything definitive on Nam yet ......

**mindfactory** · 29th May 2008, 01:41 PM

Why must the Namibian government do the communications and not Namdeb? Why?

Namdeb spokesman Ndeshi Hangula-Shikwambi said: “Nam- deb is no longer allowed to do any communications. They ( government) want to take charge.”

There has been no shortage of speculation, however, with some experts saying the ship may have been part of a fleet commanded by Bartholomew Diaz, the first European to discover the Cape of Good Hope. Bartholomew Diaz did not discover Cape of Good Hope, the Hottentotte (Coloreds and Bushmen) and San were living there. Stop telling lies.

Subsequent reports suggest some gold coins found on the wreck were minted after 1525 and that the ship was more likely a Portuguese trading vessel on its way back from a colonial outpost on Africa’s east coast.

Those gold coins were more likely to be minted from stolen gold if you would ask me

Meanwhile, researchers all over the world are eagerly awaiting news . Senior curator at the world famous Maritime Museum in Lisbon, Bruno Goncalves Neves, said the wreck was of enormous significance, hence the delicate negotiations currently on the go. He said the museum would be delighted to receive any relics from the ship .

Keep the Portuguese people away from Namibia and specially from the diamond area

The Times[/QUOTE]

**Oneword** · 29th May 2008, 04:47 PM

Ai, Mindfactory!

There has been no shortage of speculation, however, with some experts saying the ship may have been part of a fleet commanded by Bartholomew Diaz, the first European to discover the Cape of Good Hope.

Capish?