THE recovery of artifacts from a galleon ship that sank 400 years ago is finally yielding more promising findings, according to a salvaging company.
Jack Harbeston, president of the Idaho-based IOTA Limited Partnership, disclosed this development to administration officials yesterday afternoon before the signing of an agreement that extends the term of the Santa Margarita Salvage Agreement.
The Santa Margarita sank off the coast of Rota in July 1601.
In the presence of Senate President Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano, D-Tinian, the governor’s legal counsel Pamela Brown and Special Assistant for Federal and Policy Matters Sonya Artero, Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Harbeston signed the agreement.
“The CNMI shall extend the term of the agreement for an additional 60 months,” it reads. “The agreement shall expire 60 months from the date of this extension or until the recovery and marketing of artifacts are complete and the proceeds from the Santa Margarita are distributed….”
The CNMI and IOTA first entered into an agreement on Sept. 15, 1997. This granted IOTA the right to salvage the Santa Margarita.
The agreement was for 36 months or until the recovery and marketing of the artifacts salvage from the galleon was completed and the proceeds were distributed.
The underwater excavation resumed on May 20, with at least seven divers performing the delicate retrieval of these artifacts.
“I am very impressed with the presentation and the findings of the excavation,” Babauta told reporters yesterday.
Manglona said IOTA’s undertaking is “very important.”
“After several years, they have started to find something. We are appreciative of the governor’s decision to extend the contract,” he said.
Harbeston said several “very valuable” pieces of ivory were recovered from the shipwreck.
The ivory find is considered as “exceptional” according to an archeologist from the Philippine National Museum.
Ivories could not survive 200 years, and this is why the Santa Margarita artifacts “stunned” onsite archeologists, Harbeston said.
The CNMI is involved in the daily inventory of the recovered items to ensure the complete accounting of the findings.
Another rare find is a 20-carat garnet stone. He said they have about 50 pieces of these gemstone already recovered since 1997.
Several Ming Dynasty porcelain bowls have also been recovered.
Just two days ago, divers found several 16th century medical instruments, like mortar and pestle.
Harbeston said they have so far recovered about 2 tons of artifacts, which are conservatively estimated to be worth not less than $50,000.
Once the salvage stage is completed, the artifacts will be appraised before they will be put on display.
According to the agreement, IOTA may borrow the artifacts to be use for display in others countries, prior to a public auction.
