The Atocha Emeralds: Unearthing the Treasures of a Sunken Spanish Galleon

The Atocha Emeralds refer to the Emeralds originally of Muzo and Chivor origins in Colombia, which were re-discovered from the high profile shipwreck of the Spanish treasure galleon, the "Nuestra Senora de Atocha" which sank in a hurricane off the coast of Florida on September 6, 1622, about 35 miles (56 km) west of Key West. The ship derived its name from the Parish of "Atocha" in Madrid, Spain. In fact, the "Atocha" was only, one of 28 ships that constituted the Spanish treasure fleet, Tierra Firme, that left Havana for Spain on September 4th, 1622. The holds of the ships carried the wealth of an Empire, consisting of gold and emeralds from Colombia, silver from Peru and Mexico, pearls from Venezuela, and gemstones from Brazil. However, the most richly laden of all the ships was the "Atocha" whose astonishing cargo consisted of 125 gold bars and discs, 24 tons of silver bullion in the form of 1038 ingots, 180,000 pesos of silver coins, and dozens of chests of emeralds and other gemstones. The main reason for this extraordinarily rich cargo in the Atocha, was because the ship was actually a military escort vessel, that carried a company of 82 infantry men, whose main duty was to defend the fleet from attack by pirates, both private and enemy-government (British) sponsored, so common in the Caribbean, making it the ship of choice for wealthy passengers as well as their precious cargo. Among the passengers in the ship were not only Spanish sailors and soldiers, but also statesman, clergy, wealthy citizens, and some slaves.

Characteristics of the Atocha Emeralds

The total weight of emeralds carried by the "Nuestra Senora de Atocha" in several chests was estimated to be around 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg), equivalent to 135,000-160,000 carats. Out of this only around 6 pounds (2.7 kg) of emeralds have been re-discovered, equivalent to about 13,500 carats. This represents about 6,000 uncut rough emeralds. Thus a vast quantity of rough emeralds yet remain to be recovered from the shipwreck. The difficulty in recovering the emeralds was due to the disintegration of the original chests that contained the gemstones, that was responsible for scattering them over a wide area of the ocean bed. This necessitated the compulsory dredging of the ocean floor, bringing out the sand, shells and other muck, on to the deck, where a careful search had to be made for the green emeralds.

The largest emerald recovered so far weighed 78 carats, and is on display at the non-profit Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum, in Key West, Florida. This is an exceptional hexagonal emerald crystal, having a herbal green color that has been traced by experts to the Muzo mine in Colombia. An "Atocha" emerald was subjected to scientific analysis determining the oxygen isotope value, that corresponded with oxygen isotope values of Colombian emeralds, confirming their Colombian origin.

Another remarkable emerald that was recovered was the 26-carat rough emerald, that was cut and polished by master gem-cutter and polisher Meg Berry, a champion bicyclist and former employee at Pala International, who is now a full time gem cutter, polisher and carver. Meg Berry, who had won several awards at gem-cutting competitions, and has over 18 years experience in gem-cutting and polishing, transformed the 26-carat rough emerald into a 12.72-carat glittering gem, loosing only about 50% of the original rough stone, whereas in cutting emeralds the usual weigh loss is around 60%. The cut and polished emerald is said to be worth around $250,000, and is the property of Deo Fisher, the wife of treasure hunter Mel Fisher, whose Salvors Inc. was responsible for locating the site of the 363-year old "Atocha" shipwreck in 1985, after a search of 16 long years.

Another outstanding recovery from the "Atocha" shipwreck was the Spanish style elaborate emerald cross, set with seven cut and polished emeralds, which is now on display at the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum, in Key West, Florida. The largest emerald on this cross is the hexagonal-cut emerald at the bottom of the cross. Just above this is a pear-shaped emerald, followed by the longest rectangular-shaped emerald. The center of the cross is occupied by a square-shaped emerald, followed by the smallest emerald in the cross, a rectangular-shaped emerald, at the top. On either side of the central square-shaped emerald are two similar rectangular-shaped emeralds of equal dimensions, on the horizontal arm of the cross.

The source of the Atocha Emeralds

Most of the Atocha Emeralds seem to have originated from the ancient Muzo mines, situated at the northwestern end of the NW-SE emerald belt, in the "Cordillera Oriental" region of the Colombian Andes mountains, as revealed by the latest oxygen isotopic studies on samples of the retrieved emeralds. After conquering the Chibchan Indians in 1537, which led to the discovery of the Somondoco (Chivor) mines, the Spanish tried to subdue the warlike Muzo Indian tribe living further northwest from the Chibchan valley, but failed miserably due to strong resistance by the Muzo Indians, which thwarted any attempts at conquering for the next 20 years. In 1555 the Spanish managed to subdue the Muzo Indians partially, but it took them several decades more to subjugate them completely. Attempts to trace the ancient emerald mines of Muzo proved unsuccessful as the Indians had covered up any evidence of mining activity and adopted a policy of non co-operation towards the Spanish. Only in the year 1594, were the Spanish finally successful in locating the original Indian workings, close to the site of the present day Muzo mines. The Spanish started mining operations immediately and during the first 15 years large quantities of high quality Muzo emeralds were discovered from these mines. Subsequently, due to the combined effect of a multitude of unfavorable factors, such as cruelty and maltreatment of workers, long working hours and imposition of compulsory labor, which led to a rapid depopulation of the area, production declined rapidly. But production at the Muzo mines never came to complete halt in the 17th century, like the Somondoco (Chivor) mines, which were closed down by royal decree in 1675, due to unbearable cruelty inflicted on the indigenous Indian workers. Only in the mid-18th century production in the Muzo mines did come to a complete standstill, due to a disastrous fire, and the mine was totally abandoned and resumed production only after Colombia gained independence from the Spanish in 1819.

History of the Atocha emeralds

Christopher Columbus discovers the New World

Christopher Columbus' first journey to discover a westward route to India, the land of spices, which he hypothesized would be shorter and direct than the overland route through Arabia, was sponsored by King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain. Columbus started his voyage from the small town of Palos in southwestern Spain, on August 3, 1492, with a small fleet of only three ships, a larger carrack (three or four-masted sailing ship) called the Santa Maria, and two smaller caravels ( two or three masted-lateen rigged-ship). After a five week long journey, he first set foot on the Islands of Bahamas, on October 12, 1492. He then landed on the northeast coast of Cuba on October 28, 1492, and reached the northern coast of Hispaniola (Haiti) on December 5, 1492, where his ship Santa Maria ran aground and had to be abandoned. Columbus left some of his men in Haiti and returned to Spain with some native Indians on March 15, 1493. He reported the discovery of new lands to the king and queen of Spain, and presented the natives at the royal court. The news of the discovery of new lands rapidly spread across Europe, and sparked off a land rush of unparalleled proportions in the history of mankind, mainly among the Europeans powers of Spain, Portugal, Britain and to a lesser extent France.

Subsequent trips by Christopher Columbus and the colonization of new lands by the Spanish

Subsequent to this successful maiden voyage, Columbus took part in three more voyages, each time the number of ships in the fleet increasing in number, carrying thousands of Spaniards across to the newly discovered lands and colonizing them. Initially, Columbus colonized the Caribbean islands of Haiti (Hispaniola), Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and the Bay Islands, new territories discovered by him during his voyages. Columbus was appointed as the governor of these newly discovered territories. Using the Caribbean Islands as a springboard, the Spanish then sent expeditionary forces under the command of different Spanish Conquistadores, to mainland North, Central and South America, to colonize these lands. Eventually, lands colonized by the Spanish Empire in the American mainland, included the whole of Central America, most of South America, and a significant part of North America, which included Mexico and central and southern parts of present United States. Being the first country in Europe to discover the New World, and the first European power to send hundreds of thousands of its citizens across to the New World, the Spanish eventually ended up as the European power that controlled the largest extent of territory in the New World.

Economic benefits of the colonization

The economic benefits of the colonization of the New World by the Spanish, was overwhelming, propelling the nation to a super power status in the 16th to 18th centuries. This was largely due to the valuable natural resources of this region such as gold, silver, copper, emeralds, pearls and other gemstones, being exploited by the Spanish, using forced Indian labor, and sending them to Spain across the Atlantic in large fleets of ships. Besides, the Spanish also utilized the vast extent of lands available in countries under their control, to cultivate cash and food crops, such as tobacco, coffee etc. that were in demand back home in Spain and other European countries. With large scale mining and agricultural activities and exports to Spain, large urban centers and port cities also developed very rapidly. Some of the major cities that were founded by the Spanish, included Portobello in 1502, Havana in 1515, Vera Cruz and Panama City in 1519, Mexico City in 1521, Cartagena in 1533, Lima in 1535, Bogota in 1538, and Potosi in 1545. The establishment of these cities preceded the main cities of Boston, Philadelphia and New York of colonial North America by at least 50 years.

The ill-effects of colonization

Colonization throughout the ages had been disadvantages and produced serious ill-effects on the indigenous populations, be it in Africa, Asia or the Americas. The colonialists whose main motive for colonization was the plunder of the natural resources of a country, stopped short at nothing in achieving their aims, including the enslaving of people, inflicting cruel punishment on the people such as the cutting off of parts of the human body, such as hands, legs, noses and ears, and sometimes even committing mass murders, in order to instill fear into the indigenous populations, to make them subservient to their commands. All colonialists whether they were Spanish, British, French or other Europeans had been guilty of such inhuman practices in the past during the colonial domination of countries of Africa, Asia or the Americas. Among the Spanish conquistadors who undertook expeditions to subjugate land of the New World on behalf of the Spanish Crown, everyone of them including Christopher Columbus himself had been guilty of committing large scale atrocities against the indigenous populations.Besides the enslaving of peoples, inflicting inhuman punishment, and plundering the natural resources, the colonialists were also responsible for the destruction of ancient civilizations in the countries which they colonized. Thus the Spanish were responsible for the destruction of the ancient Maya, Aztec and Inca civilizations of Mesoamerica and South America, by forcing the indigenous populations to adopt western ways of life and their religion.

How resources from far-flung colonies reached Spain?

Spain had far flung colonies in the Caribbean, Central, North and South America, and the Philippines in the far east (administered as a province of Mexico aka New Spain). Some of the valuable products produced by these colonies include, silver and gold produced at the world's richest silver mine in the mountains above Potosi in Peru, Emeralds from the Muzo and Chivor mines, high up in the Andes in Colombia, in addition to gold also from Colombia, pearls from Venezuela, gold and silver from Mexico, China silk and porcelain were brought from Manila in Philippines, Indigo and other agricultural products came from Honduras and other Central American countries. The Spanish also set up mints for producing silver coins in four major cities. These are Mexico City, Lima, Santa Fe de Bogota, and Potosi, and the coins produced in these mines were also transported to Spain.

Obstacles that had to be overcome by the Spanish treasure fleets on their homeward bound journey

The fully assembled treasure fleet that was due to return to Spain with their precious cargo, had to overcome two main obstacles during their return journey to Spain. These obstacles were the weather and the pirates. The captains of all merchant ships were well aware that th hurricane season in the Caribbean began in late July of every year and continued till early October, and therefore they planned their departure from Havana weeks before the end of July. If there was a delay in the departure they had to wait till the end of September to resume their journey. The menace of pirates in the Caribbean and the Atlantic was another serious obstacle the Spanish treasure fleets had to overcome, before they reached their destination safely. It was well known that Spanish treasure fleets were well laden with valuables such as gold and silver, and thus became the prime target of pirates. Some of these pirates operated on their own, but others were sponsored by governments who were enemies to the Spanish, such as the British. To overcome this problem the treasure fleet was escorted by two heavily armed ships, one leading the fleet known as the "Capitana" and the other bringing up the rear known as the "Amaranth." But, in spite of all these precautions there had been instances when the fleet had been attacked and robbed by the pirates.The returning fleet left Havana in Cuba, and navigated through the straits of Florida, and then along the coast of Florida, entered the Gulf Stream, a powerful warm and swift Atlantic current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and then exits through the straits of Florida, and follows the eastern coastline of the United States and Newfoundland, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The fleet moving northwards along the stream, left the stream and moved eastwards when they were on the same latitude as Spain.

The fleet is hit by a hurricane, and the Atocha sinks on September 6, 1622

In the evening a northeasterly wind was blowing across the Straits of Florida, growing stronger and stronger throughout the night, and attaining the status of a hurricane in the morning. The seas became rough and stormy, and the waves were mountainous. The fleet of ships were thus caught in the midst of a severe Caribbean hurricane. Suddenly the violent winds changed direction blowing from the south, and most of the ships were driven past the Dry Tortugas, a small group of islands located at the end of the Florida Keys, and into the relative safety of the Gulf of Mexico. However, unfortunately on Tuesday, September 6, 1622, five ships at the tail end of the convoy, which included the "Atocha," Santa Margarita, del Rosairo and two smaller vessels, were exposed to the full impact of the hurricane, causing extensive damage to the masts and tillers and tearing the sails and rigging to shreds. The ships drifted helplessly towards the reefs, and the "Atocha" was mercilessly lifted by a high wave and smashed violently on a coral reef. The "Atocha" went down immediately, pulled down by her heavy cargo of treasures and bronze cannons, and drowning almost all the passengers on board. Three of the other ships were also grounded and wrecked and lost in the violent storm. The passengers and crew of the Santa Margarita however, were very fortunate, as the ship that was drifting out of control following damages to its masts, was grounded on a sandbar, just 3 miles from the spot where the "Atocha" sank. As the raging hurricane continued to pound the area, and before the ship broke up, 68 of the crew and passengers of the "Santa Margarita" were rescued

The loss of the Atocha forgotten for the next three centuries

As time passed by Spain lost most of its colonies in the North, Central and South America, after a series of independence movements that began in the early 19th century, culminating in independence to most of these colonies by 1825. After the Spanish-American war of 1898, the United States occupied the remaining Spanish colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines, and with the dawn of the 20th century Spain had no more overseas colonies except for its African territory of Spanish Sahara which it ruled from 1884 to 1975.
As time passed by the loss of the treasure ship “Atocha” was totally forgotten, and the documents relating to the event, such as the ship’s register and other relevant entries found their way to the Archives of the Indies in Seville, Spain. The documents were also forgotten and laid in obscurity until re-discovered centuries later.

Salvage operations from 1971 to 1984. Discovery of a range of artifacts

During the 14-year period from 1971 to 1984, salvage efforts were concentrated mainly around this area, that led to the recovery of some fabulous artifacts, which included gold jewelry, gold chains, a gold cup, silver ewers, candleabras, muskets, rapiers and even 1622 passenger’s baggage. Besides, over 2,000 silver coins and several gold bars were also recovered from this region. Three silver bars found matched the weights and tally numbers found on the Atocha’s manifest preserved in Seville. The sandy area just 200 yards of the anchor location, and 22 feet deep, from where over 2,000 silver coins were recovered, over a period of months, was nicknamed the “Bank of Spain.” Another significant  artifact that was recovered from this area was a gold belt with 28 sections, each set with a precious stone or pearl. In 1975, Mel Fisher’s son Dirk, found nine bronze cannons from the same area, to the east of the “Bank of Spain” in 40 feet of water. The markings on the cannons positively identified that they belonged to the wrecked “Atocha.” This was a major discovery, but unfortunately just days after this discovery, Dirk and his wife Angel, and a diver Rick Gage, were killed when their salvage boat capsized. The death of Dirk and his wife was a severe personal loss to Mel Fisher and his family, yet the family was more united than ever, and determined to see through this project that had consumed their time, energy and resources for more than six years.

Discovery of the “mother lode” in 1985

Kane Fisher and his colleagues rested for the night and then started work again in the morning of July 20, 1985. The divers who went down at the first exploratory site that morning, were spellbound and could not believe what they saw on the sea bed. They saw a “reef” of silver bars, consisting of hundreds of bars stacked in rows, one on top of the other. The “reef” was 20 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high, and consisted of 980 bars. Scattered around the “reef’ were several intact redwood boxes of coins and artifacts. Over seventy gold bars were recovered from a single hole on the western side of the ballast pile. A jubilant Kane Fisher radioed the news of the discovery to Treasure Salvors headquarters on the Florida coast from his salvage ship the “Dauntless.” “Put away the charts; we have found the main pile.”
After some days the shippers marks on the bars of silver and gold were compared with Atocha’s cargo manifest, and it was confirmed that the bars were part of the cargo carried by the “Atocha’ on that fateful day. At long last, after 16 years of searching, the “mother lode” of the “Atocha” had been discovered. However, experts believe that the sterncastle, the part of the ship that would hold most of the gold and the Muzo emeralds, have not yet been discovered.
The “Atocha motherlode” which included 40 tons of gold and silver, 100,000 Spanish silver coins, gold coins, Colombian emeralds, 1,000 silver bars and golden and silver artifacts, was estimated to have a value of $450 million according to 1985 estimates. This enormous cache yet represented only about half of the treasures that went down with the Atocha.

Artifacts on display at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

Duncan Mathewson, the Archaeological Director of Treasures Salvors Inc. and a team of dedicated archaeologists, were involved in the conservation of the artifacts brought out from the “mother lode” site. As the artifacts had lain on the ocean bed for almost three and a half centuries, they were in an extremely unstable state, requiring immediate preservation treatment to prevent its further deterioration after it left its saltwater tomb. The artifacts and treasures so preserved, form the main components of the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Museum’s collection. Among the items on exhibit at the museum are gold and silver bars and coins, a solid gold belt, gold necklace set with gems, a gold chalice believed to be a protection against poisoning, an intricately designed gold plate, a gold chain weighing more than 7 pounds, a large number of emeralds including a 77.76-carat uncut hexagonal crystal, religious and secular jewelry, and silver ware. Among the artifacts on display include rare navigational instruments, military armaments, native American artifacts, tools of different trades, ceramic vessels, galley wares, and even seeds and insects. Every year around 200,000 people visit the Mel Fisher Museum at Key West, Florida, and marvel at the extraordinary artifacts recovered from the ocean floor, that represent the glory of a nation, Spain, in a bye gone era, while appreciating the dedication and determination of the human spirit, that was responsible for retrieving these objects from the dark depths of the ocean.