In the 1700s, near Florida, divers discovered "one-of-a-kind" alcohol bottles.

Officials in Florida recently disclosed the unearthing of two 18th-century "onion glasses" in waters beyond the state's borders.

The Florida Division of Historical Resources announced the discovery of the restored bottles on Oct. 8 through a social media statement. The department shared old and new pictures of the barnacle-covered and restored artifacts, respectively, in a Facebook post. The post attributed the successful restoration to "meticulously slow cleaning and drying."

"Carefully removing the layers of the onions proved to be a difficult task."

The Director of External Affairs of the Florida Department of State, Mark Ard, informed Planet Chronicle Digital that the shipwreck off the coast of Indian River County yielded the recovery of bottles in 2021 and 2022.

"The 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet, which was sailing from Cuba to Spain, was lost at sea along Florida's east coast after encountering a hurricane."

The bottles were discovered intact and empty, and Ard deemed them a rare find.

The official stated that it was assumed they held some form of alcohol.

"Incredible is that these bottles survived the ship's destruction, being submerged underwater for over 300 years, and being subject to tidal forces."

Ard, a Florida official, stated that the bottles were likely made in England. Each onion bottle is distinct, he said.

He explained that onion bottles are created through free-blowing using a pontile, resulting in unique sizes, shapes, and weights.

"Ard stated that the onion bottles were made by skilled craftspeople and were carried as cargo, used by both crew and passengers onboard."

In the 18th century, the Spanish treasure fleet played a crucial role in global maritime trade.

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"The movement of goods and raw materials from Central and Southern America, as well as Asia, played a crucial role in the economies of various European countries, including Spain, and brought about significant social changes, such as the popularity of chocolate."

"Drinking chocolate, made by mixing Spanish sugar with cacao, was often served using porcelain vessels made in China, which were transported by the Plate Fleets."

The Artifact Loan Program now includes the availability of bottles for loan, as stated by Ard to Planet Chronicle Digital.

The Division's onion bottles are on display at History Miami, the Pensacola Museum of History, and the McLarty Treasure Museum in Sebastian, Indian River County, as explained.