Port Royal Unveiled: Sunken Secrets of a Pirate Paradise
Seventeenth century life in Port Royal, Jamaica, commonly referred to as “the wickedest city on Earth,” conjures up images of marauding pirates, treasure hunters, naval conquests, looting and the overindulgence of food, alcohol, gambling and women.
But the extravagances of the wealthiest port in the West Indies came to a rapid end at precisely 11:43 on 7th June 1692, when Port Royal was consumed by an earthquake and two thirds of the city sank into the sea. Today, Port Royal is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Caribbean and the only sunken city in the Western Hemisphere.
View of Port Royal and Kingston Harbour in the Island of Jamaica. (Public domain)
The Colonial History of Port Royal
Port Royal was first occupied by the Taino Indians. While it is unclear whether the Taino settled in that area or not, it is known that they used Port Royal during their fishing expeditions. The Spanish colonization of Jamaica brought this area under Spanish control, although, like the Taino before them, they did not have much use for it.
www.Ancient-Origins.net – Reconstructing the story of humanity’s past
Source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/port-royal-001946
