The wreck of the Silo Goncalo

Five vessels were commissioned by the crowns of Spain and Portugal to service the Companhia da Índia, created in 1628 in the same image as the  Dutch East India Company.

In 1630 one of the ships, the Silo Goncalo was lost off the coast close to Plettenberg Bay. The ship lies on the sea bed and is known to local fishermen.

Many of the crew and passengers made it to the shore and the survivors built a camp. Remains of the camp were found when the land was settled by Jan Jerling who had emigrated from Holland. In 1979 a descendant of Jan Jerling began construction of a new house, and more artefacts were found. Archaeological excavations were carried out by a team from Cape Town University.

The collection includes over 1000 porcelain shards and many other artefacts