The billion-dollar shipwreck and the man who tried to find it

In this episode, host Michael Safi interviews journalist Julian Sancton about the sunken treasure ship San Jose, whose cargo is valued at over a billion dollars. The story begins with the ship's sinking in 1708, during the War of Spanish Succession, under the command of Captain Casa Alegre, after it was attacked by a British fleet. For centuries, treasure hunters sought the San Jose, but it wasn't until 2015 that it was finally discovered by Roger Dooley, a Cuban-American archaeologist. Dooley's journey was fraught with challenges, including being portrayed as a villain, but his obsessive dedication ultimately led to his breakthrough. The narrative explores how Dooley's insights from Spanish archives differed from those of previous hunters who relied on English accounts. After the ship was found, a complex legal battle emerges over who gets to claim the treasure, involving Colombia, Spain, and various stakeholders. Sancton underscores the historic significance of the treasure as a symbol of globalization and humanity's complex legacies.