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Amelia Research & Recovery can deploy our new lift
boat technologies to locate, study, or salvage ancient
“cultural deposits” in ocean sites, which have significant
archaeological and historical interest, and intrinsic value. We
have many opportunities to work on known shipwreck sites,
worldwide. Amelia can work with others who hold exploration
or salvage rights to ancient sites, or we can work sites under
our own permits. Currently we are working in Florida, close to
our base of operations.
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The
Spanish Colonial Treasure Shipwrecks
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In the century
following Columbus’ dramatic discovery in 1492, the riches of
her New World colonies helped make Spain the most powerful
nation in  Europe.
Taxes of 20% payable to the King of Spain, the “Royal
Fifth” on all goods shipped from the New World, enabled Spain
to defend its Western Hemisphere claims against the English,
French, and Dutch, and extend its empire halfway around the
world into the South Pacific.
From 1530 to 1800 an estimated 8-10 billion dollars in
gold, silver, precious gems and other riches, were mined in
Spain’s New World colonies, then transported by the famous
Spanish Armadas across the oceans to the motherland.
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Florida Shipwrecks
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Florida is considered a world center for underwater treasure
shipwreck exploration and salvage. According to famed author and
maritime historian
Robert Marx, “more work has been done on Florida shipwrecks
than throughout the rest of the Western Hemisphere”. The
Florida east coast and Keys have off-lying reefs and shoals
which the Spanish Armadas had to pass as they departed the New
World capital, Havana, and turned northeast through the Bahamas
Channel on the journey home. Hundreds of ships have been lost in
the Florida Keys, and throughout the Caribbean. Many have been
found and salvaged. Others have never been found, or only
partially studied and salvaged.
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The
Santa Margarita – Our
Winter 2004-2005 Expedition |
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The Polly L’s new technologies are now at work on the
Santa Margarita,  a
known treasure shipwreck first discovered by Mel Fisher in
1980. Mel Fisher’s companies are famous for their work
on the Atocha,
and her sister ship, the Santa Margarita, of the Spanish treasure fleet lost in the Florida Keys in 1622.
Our target objective is the unrecovered remains of the Santa Margarita, working under a
subcontract with Motivation, Inc., a Mel Fisher company.
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Below are links to excerpts from The Santa Margarita
Expedition 2004-2005, prepared by Jim Sinclair, the
consulting project archaeologist for both Amelia and
Motivation, which describe the history, and work in
progress, on Amelia’s current Santa Margarita Salvage
Project. The description of
the likely remaining undiscovered treasure aboard
the Santa Margarita is the result of historical and
archival research by retired Professor Eugene Lyon, a
renowned authority on the Spanish colonial presence in the
New World. A notable quote, by Mr. Sinclair, “evidence is
mounting we are closing in on fabulous new discoveries.
Compelling new findings are the result of Amelia’s
work.” |
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Motivation,
Inc. | History
of 1622 fleet |
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Santa
Margarita
Wreck Site Research and Exploration |
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The
Santa Margarita 2004-2005 Expedition |
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Historical
and Archival Research and Documentation |
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Treasure
and Artifacts Yet to Be Discovered |
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Shipwreck
Salvage Opportunities |
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Amelia's new lift boat technologies open the doors to go
back to known treasure shipwreck sites in Florida, which
have only been partially studied
and salvaged to date. Amelia’s Salvage Operations
utilize on site lift boat research and excavation
technologies, to identify and recover historical artifacts
from known treasure shipwreck scatter trails. Salvage
Projects have substantial remaining treasure yet to be
recovered. Below are links to more information about these
opportunities. |
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The
Sandy Point Project | The
Jupiter Inlet Project |
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Shipwreck
Exploration Opportunities |
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Amelia’s “Exploration Operations” are a best efforts
undertaking to locate and identify target treasure
shipwreck sites, to be able to thereafter conduct Salvage
Operations. Exploration Operations are much higher risk as
it is unknown if shipwrecks in target areas will even be
located. Go to the following links to learn more about
Amelia’s two Exploration Projects: |
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Amelia Island Project E-102L: The San Miguel and the
Ciervo, two 1715 fleet vessels believed to have
been lost in Amelia Lease Project areas, have never been
located. We believe one or both of these 1715 fleet
vessels wrecked near the south end of Amelia Island
Florida in an area protected by the Company's exclusive
permits granted by the State of Florida. Details are in
the following link to Amelia’s 2002 Report to the State
of Florida, and a 1999 Summary of Amelia’s historical
research of the San Miguel. |
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The
Amelia Island E-102L Project |
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