Nossa Senhora dos Mártires

presumably the "Pepper Wreck" or São Julião da Barra 2

The wreck was found in 1993, during an archaeological survey promoted by the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia under the direction of Dr. Francisco Alves, and excavated in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000. This was one of several wrecks found in the area in São Julião da Barra at the mouth of the Tagus river, only a few miles off Lisbon.

This wreck yielded a large collection of artefacts dated from the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries, including Chinese ceramics, an astrolabe, and a large anchor. Plenty of pepper was also found under the bottom sand, yielding the nickname “Pepper Wreck”.

It is presumed to be the nau Nossa Senhora dos Mártires wrecked on September 15, 1606 on its way back from India. The study of its hull remains – which include a section of the keel, eleven frames, and some of the planking – is still under way, but already suggests a keel length of 27.7 m (18 rumos), a beam around 12 m and a depth in hold around 9 m, and 39 pre-designed and pre-assembled frames.

The hull and other finds are presently being investigated at the Texas A&M University.

by Filipe Castro, Dec '00