The wreck of the San Diego and Manila Galleon archaeology

Record summary

The Spanish galleon San Diego sank in 1600 after a battle with the Dutch Mauritius near the Philippines. Its underwater excavation recovered ceramics, weapons, coins, navigational materials, and trade goods linking China, Southeast Asia, the Spanish empire, and global maritime commerce. The wreck matters for comparing archaeological assemblages with documentary accounts of early modern exchange and naval conflict. Interpretation is complicated by disturbance, salvage, uneven recording, and the commercial recovery of artefacts, so catalogues and conservation reports are essential for verification.