Monday at the National Library, in the presence of Monique Rocourt, the Minister of Culture, representatives of Unesco, technical directors and Directors General of autonomous organizations of the Ministry and academics, three naval expert archaeologists, sent by the Spanish government, presented their theory that "the remains of the Santa Maria would be under ground and not in the sea," contrary to what was stated explorer Barry Clifford, better known as professional treasure hunter at a meeting last Wednesday, May 28 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11254-haiti-culture-the-possible-discovery-of-the-wreck-of-santa-maria-under-surveillance.html

Note that on July 7, the Haitian government had not authorized the American Explorer to continue its excavation, the Scientific Commission of UNESCO has deemed non-compliant, the method suggested and unskilled the team proposed by the explorer. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11546-haiti-heritage-barry-clifford-is-no-longer-allowed-to-continue-its-underwater-excavations-in-haiti.html

Recall that the Santa Maria, the flagship of Christopher Columbus, was part of a fleet of three ships that had left Spain in 1492 to find a shorter route to Asia. After arriving near the Bahamas, the Santa Maria had drifted before run aground on the reefs on Christmas Day in the North of Haiti. Spanish experts insist to talk about remains and not wreck, recalling that at the time, all that was reusable on the Santa Maria, including wood of the ship, which had been salvaged for construction by Christopher Columbus, of the fort "la Navidad".

These three Spanish experts base their theory on the work of investigation they had done in 1991, before having to stop because of the coup against President Aristide. During their presentation, they explained that since 1492, year after year, sediments washed away, including by the Grande rivière du Nord, covered the coast. This led to an increase in the coast of Haiti on the sea, hence the conclusion that we must search for the remains of the wreck under several meters of soil and not at the bottom of the sea.

According to these experts, based on a historical and geological study, the remains would be located to the east of Cap-Haitien near the Grande Rivière du Nord. They wish to be able to resume their work with the support of the Spanish and Haitian governments to locate the coral reef where teh Santa Maria aground. A study that could take a year to determine the exact outline of the coasts in 1492, very different from today contour.

Minister Rocourt indicated that the Haitian government would work in order to allow Haiti to benefit from the results of this research and called for a partnership between the governments of Spain and Haiti "[...] we are pleased that the Spanish government in the person of its representative in Haiti and its experts could give us today the fruit of their research. Even a single piece of wood that we would find, we'll put it in a museum [...]"

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11546-haiti-heritage-barry-clifford-is-no-longer-allowed-to-continue-its-underwater-excavations-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11445-haiti-culture-unesco-will-assist-on-the-supposed-wreck-of-santa-maria.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11254-haiti-culture-the-possible-discovery-of-the-wreck-of-santa-maria-under-surveillance.html

SL/ HaitiLibre