Archaeologists discovered a charred wooden hull of a ship.
An international expedition led by a British maritime archaeologist has discovered sunken ships in the Bahamas for the first time that may be linked to the golden age of piracy.
From the late 17th to the early 18th century, Nassau on New Providence Island was the main base for Caribbean pirates. Here, famous sea rogues like Blackbeard and Calico Jack Rackham hid, planning new raids and dividing their loot.
After researchers received official permission to dive in a restricted part of Nassau harbor, they managed to uncover six sunken ships. At least three of them date back to the so-called "golden age of piracy."
Pirates often destroyed evidence of their crimes by setting fire to captured ships after taking valuable cargo, cannons, and equipment. Archaeologists found a charred wooden hull that is still held on the seabed by a pile of stone ballast.
Among the finds were swivel guns—small artillery pieces on pivot mounts that pirates particularly liked to use to create panic on enemy decks. Researchers discovered one such weapon, an iron cannon, 25 lead musket balls, and a stone for sharpening sabers.
The scientists did not expect such rich results, as a significant portion of the historical layer on the harbor floor was considered lost after years of dredging work.
"What we have managed to uncover is just the tip of the iceberg. I was amazed that the wooden hull had survived at all. After all, ships were the main tools of pirate terror. It is possible that dozens of sunken vessels still rest in the harbor and its surroundings," said British maritime archaeologist and project leader Sean Kingsley to The Guardian.
Speaking about the charred hull, he added: "Seeing it with my own eyes and touching it was a rare, truly thrilling moment."
In 1695, pirate Henry Avery became the most wanted criminal of his time. He is credited with one of the largest robberies in the history of piracy. His loot—gold, silver, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds—would today be valued at over 85 million pounds sterling.
Therefore, upon discovering the charred hull held together with wooden pegs, archaeologists did not rule out that they might be facing Avery's legendary flagship—the ship Fancy. Historical records indicate that this vessel was burned almost to the waterline.
"Burning ships almost to the waterline was a way to cover up tracks. And in the case of the hull from Nassau, much suggests that pirates were involved here," said Michael Paitman, the expedition's second leader and ambassador of the Bahamas for history, culture, and museology.
According to him, the ship was well-armed, primarily with swivel guns. "Such weapons were mounted along the sides. During an attack, they delivered heavy fire on the enemy's deck and were particularly dangerous for the crew," he added.
The finds are also valuable because pirate shipwrecks have previously been found in various parts of the world—from Mauritius to the coast of North Carolina. But nothing similar had been discovered in Nassau itself, which was considered the main base for Caribbean pirates in the Bahamas.
"Thanks to Hollywood, everyone knows the legend of pirates. But if we strip away the romantic image, we know almost nothing about how they actually lived—and what happened to their main tools, wooden ships," Kingsley explained.
Over the past 30 years, Kingsley has researched more than 350 sunken ships. He also founded the magazine Wreckwatch, dedicated to underwater archaeology and the history of shipwrecks.
The new finds were worked on by an international team of archaeologists and documentarians—the participants of the New Providence Pirates Expedition in collaboration with Wreckwatch TV.
Expedition participant and documentarian Chris Atkins admitted that the work was risky: "Twice a day, the tides create strong currents here. Additionally, there are many sharks in these waters. We understood that the expedition could be dangerous—and might not yield any finds."
Kingsley, however, emphasized that underwater, the researchers tried to remain calm and not intrude on the lives of marine predators: "We did not disturb each other. We understood that we were in their territory."
In addition to weapons, the researchers found parts of ship rigging, glass bottles, bricks from the ship's galley, and 143 clay smoking pipes. Some of the pipes were sticking out of the sand next to the wreckage of wooden cargo boxes.
The pipes were decorated with images of unicorns, horses, crowns, and the English royal coat of arms. Based on these details, archaeologists dated them to around the 1740s and suggested that they were made in London.
"Such pipes have never been found as part of a sunken cargo before. Most likely, this was an English ship heading to Nassau after the pirate threat had ended. The fact that the vessel survived after extensive coastal development is remarkable in itself. Its cargo—wine in glass bottles and expensive smoking pipes—shows how Nassau gradually emerged from the era of pirate anarchy and became an ordinary trading port," Kingsley explained.
Between dives, expedition participants studied documents from three hundred years ago and ancient maps. They also explored caves where, according to legends, pirates hid treasures.
However, no treasures were found—apparently, the pirates had long taken everything of value with them.
