Rare 300-Year-Old Glass Bottles Discovered From 1715 Treasure Fleet Wreck
More than 300 years old, rare onion glass bottles were discovered from the wreck of a 1715 Treasure Fleet ship off the coast of Indian River County, Florida.
These onion-shaped bottles are artefacts from the famed 1715 Treasure Fleet, a convoy of Spanish ships that transported gold, silver, and other valuables between Spain and the Americas.
In July 1715, 11 Spanish treasure ships met their tragic end in a hurricane off Florida’s coast, sinking with gold, gemstones, tobacco, and spices on board.
Protected by the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves, these shipwrecks remained untouched for over two centuries, preserving their historical treasures.
Though found empty, experts believe the bottles likely contained alcoholic spirits and were made by the English, as the Spanish did not produce glass.
Remarkably delicate, these bottles survived tidal forces for three centuries, displaying the resilience of ancient craftsmanship despite marine corrosion and the flaking process called delamination.
The discovery adds to a series of artefacts uncovered in recent years from the 1715 Treasure Fleet across Florida’s Treasure Coast, drawing interest from archaeologists and treasure hunters alike.
These shipwrecks inspired two films: The Lost Treasure Fleet of 1715, a documentary, and Fool’s Gold, a comedy, each capturing the allure of this storied treasure fleet.