Researchers in the United Kingdom have identified a shipwreck discovered near Salcombe, Devon, in 1995 as the Dutch trading ship Dom van Keulen. The vessel sank in the fall of 1633 while en route from Morocco to the Netherlands.
The identification, announced by Bournemouth University, marks the culmination of nearly three decades of collaborative research involving divers, archaeologists, and institutions including the British Museum and the South West Maritime Archaeology Group.
When the wreck was first discovered by divers, over 400 Moroccan gold coins were recovered, but the ship's identity remained a mystery. The presence of these coins, along with other artifacts, provided crucial clues that allowed historians to focus their research.
The Dom van Keulen was carrying a cargo of 150 bags of gum arabic, 64 bags of saltpeter, 320 goat skins, and 9,000 Barbary ducats, which are Moroccan gold coins. While most of the cargo is believed to have been salvaged at the time, the gold coins remained on the seabed until their discovery.
Little is known about the appearance or size of the Dom van Keulen, and no known paintings of the ship exist. The wreck site measures approximately 98 feet long and lies about 59 feet below the surface. Cannons, anchors, and other artifacts are scattered across the seabed.
Professor Dave Parham of Bournemouth University noted that the ship carried what would be considered a "general cargo," a mix of everyday trade goods, with the gold coins being the most significant element in identifying the vessel. The collaborative effort between international museums and diving groups has brought this historical puzzle to a resolution, highlighting that much remains to be discovered beneath the sea.