Archaeologists working in the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of Chile have unearthed a 440-year-old silver coin, placed at the foundation of the church during the establishment ceremony of the Spanish colony Ciudad del Rey Don Felipe. Founded in 1584, the settlement was tragically short-lived. This discovery is of great significance as it definitively proves the exact location of the historic settlement, also known as 'Port of Hunger,' whose precise whereabouts had been unknown for centuries [1].
Mystery Solved from Historical Records
In a joint statement released by experts from the Center for Chilean Historical Research and Human Sciences and the Austral University of Chile, it was stated that the silver coin was found precisely where described in the diaries of the colony's founder, Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa. The coin rested on a stone inside the small church built by the colonists, exactly as depicted in historical documents [2]. Minted in Potosi, which is now within Bolivian borders, this silver coin features a Jerusalem cross on one side and the coat of arms of King Philip II of Spain on the other. These coins, among the earliest global currencies of their time, were widely used across Europe, the Americas, and Asia during that era.
A Tragic Colonial Tale: Port of Hunger
Established during a period of Spanish and English struggle for dominance in South America, the colony aimed to strategically control the strait passage. However, due to the region's extremely harsh climate conditions and insufficient resources, the settlers' lives were very brief. Nearly all of the approximately 350 settlers perished from starvation and cold within a few years. About three years after the colony's founding, the English navigator Thomas Cavendish, passing through the area, named it 'Puerto del Hambre,' meaning 'Port of Hunger,' upon witnessing the scene of devastation [3].
Material Evidence for Written History
Researchers had previously found two bronze cannons belonging to the colony in 2019, also based on Gamboa's diaries. However, the discovery of this ceremonial founding coin has solidified the accuracy of the written records beyond doubt. The find not only delineates the boundaries of a tragic colonial endeavor but also sheds light on early modern global maritime and colonial history.
Sources and Further Reading
- [1] Archaeologists Found a 440-Year-Old Coin that Marked the Lost Site of a Doomed Colony | Flipboard
- [2] Archaeologists Found a 440-Year-Old Coin that Marked the Lost Site of a Doomed Colony | Flipboard
- [3] Archaeologists Found a 440-Year-Old Coin that Marked the Lost Site of a Doomed Colony | Flipboard