Danish slave ships wreckage found off coast of Costa Rica, museum confirms

Updated on: April 27, 2025 / 7:04 PM EDT / CBS/AFP

Two 18th-century shipwrecks off the coast of Costa Rica, previously thought to have been pirate ships, have been confirmed to be two Danish slave ships, a museum said Sunday.

"Investigations of ship timbers, bricks from the cargo and clay pipes found during underwater excavations" had determined the identity of two vessels shipwrecked in 1710, Denmark's National Museum said in a statement.

Marine archaeologists identified the slave ships Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, which, according to historical sources, were wrecked off the coast of Central America in 1710, said the museum. The museum also released images of Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch and David Gregory digging underwater and excavating bricks and wood from the wreckage.

dsc3601-david-gregory-og-andreas-kallmeyer-bloch-i-costa-rica-foto-john-fhaer-engedal-nissen-nationalmuseet.jpg

Marine archaeologists David Gregory and Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch from the National Museum of Denmark during the underwater excavation in Costa Rica.

John Fhær Engedal Nissen/The National Museum of Denmark.

Fridericus Quartus was set on fire, while Christianus Quintus was wrecked in the surf after its anchor line was cut. Until now, it has not been clear exactly where the ships were lost.

More:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/danish-slave-ships-wreckage-costa-rica/

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Wikipedia
Danish slave trade:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_slave_trade