The wreck of the first pirate ship was found near Nassau during a trip to the Bahamas
Texas archaeologists uncover the tomb of an ancient king in Belize
Texas archaeologists Arlen Chase and Diane Chase recently uncovered the 4th century tomb of Te’ K’ab Chaak, the first ruler of Caracol, a major Maya city in Belize. (Source: Caracol Archaeological Project; University of Houston)
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
A group of filmmakers and archaeologists claim to have found the first shipwreck linked to real pirates that ever operated out of Nassau in the Bahamas.
In a joint statement in early June, the New Providence Pirates Expedition and Wreckwatch TV announced that they had discovered six shipwrecks near Nassau, including three from the Golden Age of Piracy.
“Until now, none of their ships have appeared in their home waters,” the researchers said.
HUNDREDS OF GREAT DISCOVERERS UNDER THE HISTORIC CITY: ‘THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION’
The Golden Age of Piracy occurred between the 1650s and 1730s – when pirates operated throughout the Caribbean and other trade routes.
The Bahamas emerged as a center of crime at the end of the 17th century, and emancipation noted that 1,000 pirates and sailors lived in Nassau Harbor at its peak.
Researchers say a newly discovered shipwreck near Nassau may provide the first direct links to pirates who once operated from the Bahamas. (WreckwatchTV; Culture Club/Getty Images)
One crash yielded iron matches, lead musket balls and a sword sharpener – items researchers say were associated with the crime at the time.
WORKERS DISCOVER 18TH CENTURY SHIP WHILE INSTALLING PIPELINE IN ‘GAME OF THRONES’ MEDIEVAL CITY
The team also found wood, metal and scrap materials, including glass bottles and bricks from the ship’s hull.
In one incident, divers found clay tobacco pipes bearing the royal crest of England, suggesting it was a British merchant ship from the 1740s.
“What we can say for sure is right place, right day, right size.”
“Survival of the accident, which was largely destroyed by the construction of the city, is a miracle,” said the release about the findings.
“The merchant’s wares of wine in glass bottles and fancy tobacco pipes cast an unusual light on Nassau being a normal trading port, stepping back from the chaos of the gangsters.”
MAN FISHING WITH GRANDDAUGHTER EXPOSES CENTRAL PLACE IN MUD FLATS, EXCAVATORS INVESTIGATE
Project director Michael Pateman said the “clear visibility” elsewhere helped researchers identify key elements of the armed threat.
“All danger is laid before us,” Pateman said in a statement. “The ship was heavily armed, especially with revolver guns, which are pirate cannons. As they were placed on the track, these anti-personnel weapons drew heavy fire from the enemy crew.”
Investigators found a cannon, musket balls and other artifacts while examining historic ruins near Nassau. (WreckwatchTV)
In another wreck, Kingsley said a combination of artifacts and structural evidence suggested it might have been a pirate ship.
“Elsewhere, the smoking gun was its iron, revolver, the weapon of choice for criminals, lead musket balls and sharpening swords,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFE NEWSLETTER
“The absence of material such as pottery and the small diameter of the ballast mound all point to a broken sloop, a small and fast pirate ‘hot wheels’.”
Sean Kingsley, the marine archaeologist who led the expedition, told Fox News Digital that no sea crew had been identified, although researchers found several signs of piracy.
The findings may shed light on Nassau’s role as a major criminal center in the past centuries. (WreckwatchTV)
Another disaster, a large burned wooden ship found in Nassau harbor, led to speculation that it could be linked to Henry Avery, one of history’s worst pirates.
Kingsley said the ship’s wooden nails suggest it was built in the late 1600s or early 1700s, although more research is needed to determine the damage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
“What we can say for sure is right place, right day, right size,” Kingsley said. “The ship needs a lot of science before we can prove that.”
Although pirates are often portrayed as criminals, researchers say many sailors turned to crime to escape the harsh conditions and low pay in the Royal Navy and merchant ships.
Researchers are using underwater archeology to better understand life in Nassau during the Golden Age of Piracy. (WreckwatchTV)
“Piracy has given rebels the opportunity to escape beatings, bad food and worse on military warships and earn up to 1,000% more money than sailing on regular merchant ships,” the statement said.
Pateman said, “It may have been a short life, but for a short time, the sailors found freedom and wealth unmatched anywhere in the world. That escape was a pirate’s dream.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The trip was documented by Wreckwatch TV for an upcoming documentary series.
Kingsley hopes to map the entire harbor with a submersible — “especially the high-risk areas,” he said.
Tobacco pipes found among the remains of a shipwreck provide clues about trade and daily life in Nassau after the pirate era. (Wreckwatch TV)
“We have some secrets hidden there,” Kingsley said.
“The cannon wreck needs to be photographed with multiple multibeam or 3D images. The wooden structure needs to be excavated to reveal its full story and look at the material and small objects found to fix its date.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
He added, “There is a lot of unrealized potential, all the while working with the Bahamian authorities to help them protect their sunken history.”
