This shipwreck’s gold, silver, and emeralds helped spawn a golden age of piracy in the Bahamas and excavators keep finding more treasure

• One of the most famous treasure sites of the sea is the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas.
• It was pillaged for centuries, leaving little left. At least, that’s what experts thought.
• The latest excavations of the ship have uncovered thousands more artifacts worth millions.

Picture a legendary shipwreck full of silver coins, jewels, and other treasures, and you just might be imagining the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas.

The ship sank 368 years ago near the Bahamas. In the centuries since, pirates and treasure hunters have made off with millions in silver pesos, dazzling emeralds, weapons, and other loot.

Experts once thought there was little of the wreck remaining. Since 2019, though, divers have found thousands of artifacts. They’ve helped scientists learn more about the Bahamas’ past, including how piracy shaped the islands.