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December 5, 2000
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A Pirate's Ransom?
| A Pirate's Life |
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Researchers believe they've found the wreckage of Queen Anne's Revenge, the flagship of the infamous Blackbeard. This pirate terrorized the North Carolina coastline from 1716 to 1718. What can underwater archaeology reveal about how pirates lived? Back in the 1700s, it was normal for warring nations to hire privateers. These "legal pirates" were hired to attack and loot enemy ships. Privateers sailed their own vessels, and saved countries the expense of building up their navies. Any loot obtained was divided between the ship's captain and the government he worked for. Edward "Blackbeard" Teach worked as a privateer for the British, attacking French ships during Queen Anne's War (1702-1713), a war that decided which of the two countries would own the American continent. After the war, Blackbeard found his lucrative lifestyle impossible to give up. He switched from privateer to pirate and eventually acquired his own ship. The slave vessel, captured from the French, was called LaConcorde. Blackbeard converted it into a 40-cannon warship, changing its name to Queen Anne's Revenge (QAR).According to researchers, QAR was a three-masted, 90- to 100-foot ship. Queen Anne's Revenge ran aground and sank in 1718. It is this ship that underwater archaeologists believe they have found near Beaufort Inlet off the coast of North Carolina. |
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| What Makes Them So Sure? |
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The shipwreck was discovered in 25 feet of water on Nov. 26, 1996, by Intersal, a modern-day treasure hunting operation. Ironically, that very day was the 278th anniversary of Blackbeard's death. But it took some time for undersea explorers to determine that this was most likely the remains of Queen Anne's Revenge. When scuba divers first began exploring the site, they needed a way to accurately describe where certain objects were found. They created a grid that consisted of chains running from north to south. Those lines were then intersected every 10 feet by yellow lines running from east to west. The grid provided 10-foot square units, allowing divers to accurately record the location of artifacts. They would photograph the artifacts, plot them on a map, draw them, and record the elevations at which they were discovered. As they found more artifacts, researchers became more sure that these were the remains of QAR. None of the artifacts had been built after 1718, the year QAR went down. About 21 cannons have been located, which indicates that this was a large war ship. Some of the cannon measure eight-feet long and weigh about 2,500 pounds. Researchers have found much of the ship's hull. Its construction indicates that this vessel was of the same style popular during the time QAR sailed.
Divers have also found:
To preserve artifacts, underwater archaeologists must be extremely careful during excavations. First, items are cleaned of mud and barnacles. Next, the salt that has saturated the objects for almost 300 years needs to be extracted. If artifacts were allowed to dry naturally, the salt trapped inside them would crystallize and most likely cause them to shatter. Once clean, the artifacts are immersed in a tank of water. Chlorine ions seep from the objects into the surrounding water, turning it salty. The water is then replaced with more freshwater, and the process continues until no salt leaks from the artifacts.
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| The Legend of Blackbeard |
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Blackbeard has long captured people's imaginations. He had a frightening appearance, his most notable feature being the thick black beard that covered most of his face and hung to his belly.
Historians say that the crafty Blackbeard used his appearance to his advantage. Upon seeing him, captains of other ships would often surrender without a fight. By some accounts, before battle, Blackbeard would braid or twist his beard into many sections and tie the ends with colored ribbons. He would stick slow-burning cords beneath his hat and light the ends. As he approached his enemies, they would see the smoke coming from him, which increased their fear. In battle, Blackbeard wore a double sling of pistols across his chest. Numerous daggers hung from his belt. Blackbeard's cleverness may also be the reason that no treasure other than some gold dust has been found at the QAR site. Historians believe Blackbeard intentionally ran the ship aground, escaping with a small crew and much of the loot on one of his smaller ships. A Lt. Robert Maynard of the British Royal Navy finally killed Blackbeard in 1718, but not until Blackbeard had been shot five times and stabbed 20 times. Maynard hung Blackbeard's head from the front of his ship as a trophy and warning to all pirates. Blackbeard's death signified the end of the golden age of piracy. |
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