Finisterre Shipwreck Survey

Introduction

Cape Finisterre is located on Spain's northwest coast in the Galicia region. The cape itself extends from the mainland into the North Atlantic, threatening navigation between the north and south of Europe. With its rocky coastline and reefs, brutal winter storms, dangerous currents, and dense fog, this area has become the final resting place for many ships along with their crew.

In Roman times, Finisterre was believed to be the "end of the known world"—its name derives from Latin finis terrae meaning "end of the earth." The area also served as a significant pilgrimage destination, with Cape Finisterre marking the final destination for many pilgrims on the Way of St. James.

The 1596 Maritime Disaster

One of the worst maritime disasters occurred here the night of October 28, 1596, when a storm surprised a large Spanish armed fleet (Armada) under the command of Martín de Padilla. The Armada had departed from Lisbon to occupy the port of Brest (France), and it was composed of about 80 large ships including Spanish, Portuguese, and Mediterranean galleons, northern hulks (urcas), Cantabrian naos, galizabras, and other types of vessels.

Written sources reveal that 25 ships, including some large galleons, sank that night off Cape Finisterre and approximately 2,000 men drowned.

The Finisterre Project (2012-2015)

More than four centuries later, in 2012, a project known as the Finisterre Project began, thanks to the support of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA), Associate Professor Filipe Castro, Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation (CMAC), and the Regional Government of Galicia.

Between 2012 and 2015, a team of underwater archaeologists led by José Luis Casabán and Miguel San Claudio documented the remains of several shipwrecks. These include:

• The Punta Restelos shipwreck (1596) – A vessel from the ill-fated 1596 Armada
• The French corvette Bayonnaise (1803) – Located in the Finisterre area
• The Ribadeo galleon – A late 16th-century wreck on the north coast of Galicia, exceptionally well preserved

Archaeological Findings

The preliminary results of the Finisterre Project have generated an ongoing series of publications and conference papers. Notable discoveries include a 16th-century bronze cannon from Naples found at the Punta Restelos wreck-site, along with ship-shaped ingots and various other artifacts.

Project Partners

The Finisterre Project was made possible through collaboration between:

• Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA)
• Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation (CMAC)
• Regional Government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia)
• Texas A&M University

References

English Publications

• Casabán, J.L., San Claudio, M., Castro F., González, R. (2013). The Finisterre Project. A trove of 16th-century Spanish shipwrecks, The INA Quarterly 40(1). 15-21.
• Casabán, J.L., San Claudio, M., Castro F., (2012). The Finisterre Project, The INA Quarterly 39(3-4). 21.
• Casabán, J.L., San Claudio, M., Castro F. (2012) The Finisterre Project: Shipwrecks from the Death's Coast, CMAC News and Reports 3(2): 15-16.

Conference Presentations

• Ridella, G., Casabán, J.L, San Claudio, M (2015), A 16th-century bronze cannon from Naples in the Punta Restelos wreck-site and other Neapolitan pieces from the seas of the world. Paper presented at The Ordnance Society Conference 2015 – Guns from the Sea. Portsmouth (September 4-5, 2015), UK.

Spanish Publications

• Casabán, J.L., San Claudio, M., Castro F., González, R., Domínguez, M. (2014), El Pecio de Punta Restelos. Un buque de la Armada de 1596, Actas del I Congreso de Arqueología Naútica y Subacuática Española, Cartagena, 14, 15 y 16 de marzo de 2013, coord. Francisco Xavier Nieto Prieto, Manuel Bethencourt Núñez, Vol. 1, págs. 189-196.
• San Claudio, M., Gonzalez, R., Casabán, J.L., Castro F., Domínguez, M. (2014), El pecio de Ribadeo, un excepcionalmente bien conservado pecio español del siglo XVI, Actas del I Congreso de Arqueología Naútica y Subacuática Española, Cartagena, 14, 15 y 16 de marzo de 2013, coord. Francisco Xavier Nieto Prieto, Manuel Bethencourt Núñez, Vol. 1, págs. 169-178.
• Folgueira, V. (2014) Tratamientos de conservación de metales procedentes de los pecios del Proyecto Finisterre, Actas del I Congreso de Arqueología Naútica y Subacuática Española, Cartagena, 14, 15 y 16 de marzo de 2013, coord. Francisco Xavier Nieto Prieto, Manuel Bethencourt Núñez, Vol. 2, págs. 431-440.