Oranjemund on the southernmost point of Namibia's coast has a new attraction: the 'Bom Jesus'. The Portuguese carrack (nau) was lost in 1533. In April 2008, her wreck was discovered north of the town, buried deep in the sand. Now the Jasper House Museum in Oranjemund has dedicated a permanent exhibition to the sensational find.
The 'Bom Jesus' room was officially opened at the end of August by representatives of the Namibian government and the Portuguese embassy. It tells the story of the ship in photos and texts.
Archaeologist Dieter Noli and other experts have deduced from the ship's cargo that the 'Bom Jesus' was travelling from Lisbon to the West Indies. Many merchant ships of a similar type travelled this route at the time. They transported goods such as gold, copper, spices, ivory, weapons and silk.
Struck on a rock in a storm
The 'Bom Jesus' probably got caught in a storm and drifted too close to the coast. It hit a rock and capsized. The captain's coin chest, which was found on the seabed, provides an indication of this. It must have fallen out after the hull broke.
Photo: Post by the OMD 2030 organisation on Facebook
The ship broke into three large pieces, which were washed up on the beach and covered in sand. The saltwater-rich soil contributed to the preservation. During excavation work, archaeologists found more than 40 tonnes of cargo. Cannons, firearms, swords, lead, tin and textiles.
Most valuable, however, was the find of more than 1,800 copper ingots with a total weight of almost 17 tonnes. According to their shape and coinage, they came from Anton Fugger in Augsburg, one of the wealthiest merchants of his time.
Photo: Post by the OMD 2030 organisation on Facebook
The more than 2,000 gold and silver coins from several seafaring nations at the time also caused a stir. On top of that, there were 105 elephant tusks, which, according to DNA analyses, came from West Africa. A detailed article on the 'Bom Jesus' can be found on Wikipedia.
Experts were thrilled. The finds shed light on the global trade relations of the time. Archaeologists from Portugal also took part in the analysis. In one of the speeches at the official opening of the exhibition, it was said that the wreck of the 'Bom Jesus' was a window into the early 16th century.
A detour from Aus to Oranjemund
Holidaymakers in Namibia can now also take a look through this window. Oranjemund is far from the usual round trip route. But a detour could be combined with a visit to the Richtersveld Park. The border crossing with ferry across the Gariep (Oranje) at Sendelingsdrift is only a two-hour drive south of Aus.
Sven-Eric Stender
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