A remarkable discovery has emerged from the depths of the RMS Titanic’s wreckage: a necklace that has remained unseen and unworn since the ill-fated ship sank on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg. Guernsey-based company Magellan, specializing in deep-water investigations, conducted an unprecedented underwater scanning project to produce a comprehensive digital scan of the luxury liner.
Utilizing two submarines, they captured an astounding 700,000 images of the wreck, which were then transformed into a moving scan. Among the captured images was a necklace crafted from the tooth of a prehistoric Megalodon shark, adorned with exquisite gold jewelry.
Due to an agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, public access to the wreck and its surrounding bed is strictly prohibited, forbidding any removal of artifacts. As a result, the Magellan team, despite their profound discovery, was compelled to leave the necklace untouched at the site.
In an earnest attempt to identify the rightful owner of the jewelry, Magellan is leveraging artificial intelligence to reach out to the descendants of the 2,200 passengers who were on board the Titanic during its tragic demise. The team will analyze footage of passengers boarding the ship using advanced technologies such as facial recognition and examination of their attire. It is worth noting that a necklace played a pivotal role in the 1997 film “Titanic,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Although the found artifact differs from the famous necklace created for the film, the discovery of the Megalodon tooth necklace holds significant meaning. Richard Parkinson, CEO of Magellan, describes the find as “astonishing, beautiful, and breathtaking.” He further emphasizes that the Titanic consists of two distinct parts, with a three-square-mile debris field nestled between the bow and stern. The meticulous mapping carried out by the team allowed for the identification of such intricate details.
Jan Eliassen, captain of the MV Freja, the vessel used for the scans, expressed the emotional weight of participating in this groundbreaking project. Reflecting on the sinking of the Titanic, he stated, “One cannot truly comprehend the darkness of that night when the ship you were aboard disappeared beneath the waters.”
In the realm of underwater discoveries, the unearthing of this long-lost necklace in the Titanic wreckage stands as a poignant reminder of the human tragedy intertwined with the historical significance of this legendary vessel.
