DISCOVERY OF SLAVE SHIPS OFF COSTA RICA SHATTERS DOUBTS ABOUT THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE

Many have questioned the historical reality of the transatlantic slave trade, asking, “Where are the slave ships?” This skepticism, often fueled by the absolute valid distrust in mainstream historical narratives and amplified by content creators like Dane Calloway, has been decisively addressed by a groundbreaking discovery off the coast of Costa Rica.

In April 2025, marine archaeologists confirmed that two 18th-century shipwrecks in Cahuita National Park were not pirate vessels, as long believed, but Danish slave ships, Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus. This finding provides undeniable physical evidence of the horrific trade that forcibly brought millions of Africans to the Americas, silencing doubts and reaffirming the painful truths of history.
The wrecks, discovered through underwater excavations in 2023 by teams from the National Museum of Denmark and the Viking Ship Museum, were identified using compelling evidence: yellow bricks from Flensburg, Denmark, charred timbers indicating a fire (consistent with records of Fridericus Quartus being set ablaze), and clay pipes dated to around 1710. These ships, which sank off Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast in 1710, were carrying approximately 690 enslaved Africans. Historical accounts indicate that some of these captives escaped, while others were recaptured and forced to work on cacao plantations in Matina. The discovery not only confirms the presence of the slave trade in the region but also ties directly to the ancestral heritage of Afro-Costa Rican communities in Limón province, whose descendants participated in the excavation as youth divers.

This find is a powerful rebuttal to those who have questioned the existence of the transatlantic slave trade. While skepticism often stems from a rightful distrust of Eurocentric historical narratives, the physical evidence of these ships—combined with archival records and oral histories—leaves no room for denial. The Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus are tangible relics of a brutal system that uprooted millions, forcing them into bondage across the Americas. Posts on social media have celebrated the discovery, with users noting its importance in “setting the record straight” and honoring the resilience of those who survived and resisted.

At the same time, it’s crucial to acknowledge the broader context of Black identity in the Americas. While the slave trade brought countless Africans to these shores, there is also truth to the presence of Black people native to the Americas, whose histories predate European contact. Indigenous Black populations, often erased or marginalized in historical accounts, coexisted alongside those forcibly brought from Africa. The discovery of these ships does not negate the native Black American narrative but rather complements it, illustrating the complex tapestry of Black existence in the Americas. Both histories—those of the enslaved Africans and the indigenous Black populations—deserve recognition and respect.

The Costa Rica discovery, a collaborative effort involving Afro-Costa Rican and Indigenous youth, is more than an archaeological triumph; it’s a reclamation of truth. It challenges conspiracy theories, bridges historical gaps, and honors the ancestors whose lives were stolen. For Black communities, this moment is a call to embrace the fullness of their history—native and diasporic—while continuing to demand accountability for the legacies of slavery.

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