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IMAGES FROM THE RECOVERY

 

Pacific Sea Resources (PSR) was established in 1986 to undertake the archaeological recovery of Spanish galleons sunk in the Pacific during the Manila Galleon trade between the Philippines and America. After the initial research phase in libraries and archives in seven countries, PSR researchers focused on the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion, an Acapulco-bound galleon sunk in 1638 off Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

 
 

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The field program, begun in March 1987 and concluded in July 1988, was carried out by PSR’s crew of 30 professionals from seven countries. The company used state-of-the-art equipment such as computer systems to image-capture artifacts and record pertinent information and specialized excavation tools to recover the artifacts and to map the wreck site. The comprehensive archaeological program was developed and implemented in close cooperation with the Historic Preservation and the Coastal Resources Management Offices of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands along with the Army Corps of Engineers. The 5 year project resulted in an assemblage of materials relating to the shipwreck including all artifacts, paintings, charts and models, now known as the Concepcion Collection, which are presently situated in the National Museum of the CNMI.