San José galleon: Artefacts found on Colombian coast shipwreck

“Results of this exploration have revealed an unprecedented set of archaeological evidence, which has greatly expanded our knowledge,” the institutions in charge of exploring the wreck said in a statement.

Alhena Caicedo, the director of the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, said it included “a series of new materials that we hadn’t seen before”.

“Among other things, pieces of wood or parts of the ship’s hull, at least remnants indicating that there was wood there, and traces of possible anchors,” she said.

“Other types of items found include nails, bottles, jars and some different materials like glass and ceramics.”

The Colombia President Gustavo Petro has made recovering the shipwreck a priority before his term in charge ends in 2026.

But there is an ongoing debate over who owns the treasure.

Spain claims the San José is a “ship of state” as it belonged to the Spanish navy when it was sunk and its contents are protected under a UN convention Colombia is not party to.

But indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians claim the riches were stolen from them.

And US-based salvage company Sea Search Armada has taken Colombia to the UN’s Permanent Court of Arbitration, seeking £7.8bn, over claims it first discovered the vessel more than 40 years ago.