November 1, 2001	Thursday	Shaba’an 14, 1422

PANAMA, Oct 31: Panama archaeologists declared on Tuesday they have found a sunken ship that dates from the early 1500s and could be one of two abandoned by explorer Christopher Columbus on his fateful voyage to the region.

“We have discovered a Spanish ship in good condition, and in looking at the pieces on board and historical records, we believe it belonged to Christopher Columbus,” the head of Panama’s national culture institute said.

Rafael Ruiloba said he believed the ship was the “Vizcaina” or “Biscayan,” one of a fleet of four vessels that left Spain on Man submerged in shallow Caribbean waters.

Divers found on board typical cannon and ammunition of the time, which Ruiloba said matched those that would have been on a ship carrying Columbus, credited with having discovered the Americas for the Europeans in 1492.

Ruiloba said that 500 years ago the shores off Colon were busy shipping lanes for Spanish traders and that he thought “no less than 20 ships and galleons sank there between 1500 and 1819.”

According to Ruiloba and historical studies, native indian leader Quibian attacked the four vessels after the Spaniards’ brutal treatment of the native people in their search for gold.—AFP