Researchers in the United Kingdom have identified a long‑lost shipwreck off England’s southern coast, concluding a three‑decade investigation.
The wreck, discovered near Salcombe, Devon, in 1995, yielded more than 400 Moroccan gold coins but its identity remained unknown for years.
Collaborative analysis by maritime archaeologists, museum specialists and divers has now linked the site to the Dutch trading vessel Dom van Keulen, which departed Morocco for the Netherlands in the autumn of 1633.
Historical records note that the ship developed a leak and sank, with the entire crew surviving the incident.
The wreck lies approximately 98 feet in length on a seabed about 59 feet below the water, surrounded by cannons, anchors and assorted artifacts.
Cargo recovered from the site includes 150 bags of gum arabic, 64 bags of saltpeter, 320 goat skins and an estimated 9,000 Barbary ducats, the Moroccan gold coins that first drew attention to the wreck.
While most of the cargo was salvaged shortly after the sinking, the coins remained on the seafloor until their discovery by divers in 1995.
The identification was anchored by the presence of the Moroccan coins together with dating evidence from the other finds, enabling researchers to focus their historical investigation.
The project culminated in a newly published volume detailing the ship’s journey and cargo, underscoring the role of international cooperation between academic institutions and diving groups.
The find highlights the potential for further undiscovered maritime heritage beneath the seas surrounding the British Isles.
