Unidentified shipwreck finally linked to 17th-century vessel

The Dom van Keulen was discovered off the coast of Salcombe, Devon, in 1995 by the South West Maritime Archaeology Group and has now been identified thanks to a new book, From Morocco to the Coast of England: The Story of the Dom van Keulen and its Remarkable Cargo.

Professor Dave Parham, professor of maritime archaeology at Bournemouth University and co-editor of the book, said: "Among its cargo were 150 bags of gum arabic, 64 bags of saltpetre, 320 goat skins and 9,000 Barbary ducats, gold Moroccan coins.

"It is thought that most of the cargo was salvaged at the time, but more than 400 coins remained on the seabed until they were discovered by the South West Maritime Archaeology Group in 1995."

The identity of a centuries-old shipwreck discovered off the south coast of England, holding 400 gold coins has finally been identified as the Dutch trading ship “Dom van Keulen” which left Morocco for the Netherlands in the autumn of 1633. (Image: Bournemouth University)

The research was a collaborative effort between Bournemouth University, the British Museum, and the South West Maritime Archaeology Group.

Ian Friel, an independent historian involved in identifying the ship, uncovered documents in the National Archive confirming that the vessel sank after leaving Morocco in 1633 bound for the Netherlands.

Professor Parham said: "This provides important context for the wealth and architecture of the Sa‘dian Sharifs, the trade in African gold, and tangible evidence of the flourishing 17th-century maritime trade linking Morocco, the Low Countries and Britain."

Many of the coins and other artefacts from the wreck are now on display at the British Museum.

The 400 coins which along with other material from the wreck are on display at the British Museum originated from the Barbary Coast, recognised today as Morocco (Image: Bournemouth University)

Jeremy D Hill, head of research at the British Museum, said: "The discovery of African gold from under the sea off the coast of Devon was an amazing discovery that raised so many questions about how it came to be there.

"The story can now be told of how a Dutch ship carrying North African gold was wrecked off the English coast, making this a discovery of international importance.

"It reminds us how much there is still to be found under our seas.”

The wreck lies at a depth of around 18 metres underwater and is protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.