The San Jose, a Spanish galleon lost in 1708, has been identified as the “world’s richest shipwreck,” containing £16bn in treasure. Discovered in 2015 near Colombia, the wreck’s gold and emeralds have reignited international disputes over ownership, with Spain claiming it as a state ship while Colombia argues for its rights to the treasure. Indigenous communities, whose ancestors mined the precious metals, seek recognition of the San Jose as shared heritage, warning against unilateral claims as acts of neo-colonialism.
