The 1725 Nuestra Señora de Begoña: Ongoing Investigations of a Spanish Merchant Fragata and Cultural Conservation Strategies in La Caleta de Caucedo, Dominican Republic

Summary

On 21 May 1725 the Spanish merchant vessel Nuestra Señora de Begoña wrecked in La Caleta de Caucedo on the south coast of Hispaniola.  While there was no loss of life, contemporary legal texts pertaining to the sinking event document the complete loss of ship and cargo, ineffective salvage efforts, and the conviction of its captain for contraband silver.  Indiana University has conducted excavations of the shoreward spillage area of the Nuestra Señora de Begoña since 2010.  Preliminary findings suggest that the archaeological and historical records are consistent.

The shipwreck’s proximity to a pre-hispanic Taino settlement and the inclusion of both within the Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta offer a unique opportunity for interpretation and preservation of these resources, in addition to protection of the associated coral reef, through the establishment of a Living Museum of the Sea public underwater preserve within the national park.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013   •
• Cultural Heritage in the Dominican Republic: Archaeology, Management, and Innovation

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 208