(CNN) Archeologists have found a centuries-old shipwreck off Portugal's coast near Lisbon, a local mayor's office said Saturday.

Aboard the ship, thought to have sunk between 1575 and 1625, divers found spices, including pepper; Chinese ceramics from the period; and cowries, a type of shell used as currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time.

The project's science director, Jorge Freire, called it the "discovery of the decade."

"From a conservation perspective, both of the assets as of the ship itself, this discovery is of great patrimonial value," he said.

Maritime archaeologists explore the shipwreck.

Also found were some of the ship's bronze cannons, engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms and the armillary sphere that are still featured in the Portuguese flag.

Read More</s>A centuries-old shipwreck has been discovered off the coast of Portugal.The vessel is believed to have sank sometime between 1575 and 1625.Archaeologists found spices and Chinese ceramics onboard along with currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time.Drivers will continue to work at the site to see if they can uncover further information about the ship and its cargo.------</s>Lisbon, Sep 23 (IANS) Archeologists have found a centuries-old shipwreck off Portugal’s coast near Lisbon, authorities said.

Aboard the ship, thought to have sunk between 1575 and 1625, divers found spices, including pepper; Chinese ceramics from the period; and cowries, a type of shell used as currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time, CNN quoted the authorities as saying on SATURDAY.

The project’s science director, Jorge Freire, called it the “discovery of the decade”.

“From a conservation perspective, both of the assets as of the ship itself, this discovery is of great patrimonial value,” he said.

Also found were some of the ship’s bronze cannons, engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms and the armillary sphere that are still featured in the Portuguese flag.

Judging by what’s been found so far, the ship was probably coming into Lisbon from India, Freire said.

the wreck was discovered on September 3 as part of an underwater investigation project spearheaded by Cascais, a city near Lisbon, with help from Nova University of Lisbon, the Portuguese government and navy.

The ship was found just 40 feet below the surface.</s>Archeologists have found a centuries-old shipwreck off Portugal’s coast near Lisbon, a local mayor’s office said Saturday.

Aboard the ship, thought to have sunk between 1575 and 1625, divers found spices, including pepper; Chinese ceramics from the period; and cowries, a type of shell used as currency for the slave trade in some parts of Africa at the time.

The project’s science director, Jorge Freire, called it the “discovery of the decade.”

“From a conservation perspective, both of the assets as of the ship itself, this discovery is of great patrimonial value,” he said.

Also found were some of the ship’s bronze cannons, engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms and the armillary sphere that are still featured in the Portuguese flag.

Judging by what’s been found so far, the ship was probably coming into Lisbon from India, Freire said.

The wreck was discovered September 3 as part of an underwater investigation project spearheaded by Cascais, a city near Lisbon, with help from Nova University of Lisbon, the Portuguese government and navy. The ship was found just 40 feet (12 meters) below the surface.

“This is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the century,” Cascais Mayor Carlos Carreiras said. “The recognition from the scientific community that this is the discovery of the decade, the century, in terms of marine archeology, is for us of great satisfaction.”

Some objects were removed from the wreck for safekeeping, as they were at risk of permanently being lost.

Divers will continue exploring the wreck, and researchers will “have to complement the work in the field with research in our historical archives, to find out exactly which ship” this was, Freire said.

The Chinese ceramics found are from the Wanli period (1573-1619) , a late era in the Ming dynasty.</s>LISBON, PORTUGAL (WHDH)- A centuries-old shipwreck was discovered off the coast of a Lisbon, Portugal suburb earlier this month.

Archeologists working for Nova University of Lisbon in partnership with the Portuguese government found the ship on September 3, submerged just 40 feet from the surface not far from the coast of Cascais, a suburb of Lisbon, according to officials.

Aboard the ship divers found Chinese ceramics, shells used for currency and spices, according to maritime archeologists.

It is believed that the vessel sank sometime between 1575 and 1625.

“This is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the century,” Cascais Mayor Carlos Carreiras said.

Some of the artifacts have been removed so as to preserve them.

Divers are expected to return to the site in hopes of finding more treasures in the fathoms below.</s></s></s></s></s>
Archaeologists discover a centuries-old shipwreck near the Portugal coast of Cascais.