In 2019, the Bahamian government gave multimillionaire Carl Allen and his company, AllenX, the rights to explore and salvage what was left — if anything — of the Maravillas. What the company uncovered was astounding.
In the years since, AllenX has found over 10,000 artifacts, including gold chains, silver bars, and emeralds. The company works with archaeologists, including Michael Pateman, director of the Bahamas Maritime Museum, to document both the site and the discoveries.
Even everyday items like olive jars, pipes, and wine bottles are a type of treasure because they help archaeologists working with AllenX understand who was on board, what they ate, how they dressed, and what personal items they traveled with.
Allen started the Bahamas Maritime Museum to hold the recovered treasures, which he said he has no current plans to sell. His company and the government split the finds.