500-year shipwreck mystery solved

was one of two ships that sank in a storm in May 1503.

The British team Blue Water Recoveries, identified a possible site in 1998.

Working alongside officials in Oman, as well as Bournemouth and Warwick universities, the team recovered and studied about 2800 artefacts.

This week, after keeping their find secret for 18 years, they were able to confidently name it as the missing Esmeralda.

‘‘This is the earliest ship discovery of the European Age of Discovery,’’ David Mearns, director of Blue Water Recoveries, said. ‘‘Of the 230 Portuguese East Indiamen shipwrecks that have been excavated by archaeologists, only two others have been found before looters got there. Ours is untouched and by far the earliest.’’

Da Gama became the first European to reach India by sea, sailing around Africa to the southern state of Kerala in 1498. His trade route linked Europe to the Indian spice market.

Four years after the discovery, da Gama set sail for India again. Before returning home to Lisbon he left a five-ship squadron under the command of Sodre and his brother Bras to protect Portuguese interests along the Indian coast.

But Sodre sailed with his brother, commander of the Sao Pedro, to the Gulf of Aden to plunder Arab ships. He anchored at the remote Khuriya Muriya islands off the southern coast of Oman.

The crew ignored storm warnings and the boats were destroyed. Sodre and dozens of his men perished.

Most of the ship’s treasures and light weapons sunk under the waves, remaining untouched for 500 years.