Mr. William J Wilson

The Punta Espada Shipwreck represents a mid-16th century, Iberian-constructed vessel located along the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic. The vessel carried a load of cargo intended for international trade and colonization. Following impacts from commercial salvage from 2011 to 2013, Indiana University (IU) began investigating the site. The researchers have noted an incredible assemblage, including a varied cargo that rivals other 16th-century shipwrecks (Muckerheide and Beeker 2024). In May of 2025, the University of West Florida (UWF) Archaeology Institute partnered with IU to conduct a magnetometer and handheld gradiometer investigation of the Punta Espada Shipwreck and a surrounding reconnaissance area. The survey team collected magnetic data from 17 to 18 May 2025, with total linear transects equal to 12.2 kilometers and an area of roughly 6.5 hectares. Magnetometer analysis revealed 14 anomalies, including the wreck site anomaly, Anchor #4, several anomalies associated with sargassum barrier anchors, and two anomalies recommended for further investigation. Using the handheld gradiometer, the team was able to identify nine anomalies south of the main wreck scatter. Three of the anomalies were able to be confirmed using a small metal detector, but the remaining six were not. These targets will be exposed and identified during future investigations. Based on these findings, we recommend continued employment of handheld gradiometers as they can detect ferrous sources too deep to be sensed using traditional metal detectors. Research at the shipwreck is ongoing and will be the subject of a PhD dissertation at IU.