Centuries-old pirate mystery deepens after wrecks are found near Bahamas haven

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A group of filmmakers and archaeologists say they’ve found the first shipwrecks linked to the real-life pirates who once operated from Nassau in The Bahamas.

In a joint statement in early June, the New Providence Pirates Expedition andWreckwatch TVannounced that they had discovered six shipwrecks near Nassau, including three from the Golden Age of Piracy.

“Until now, not one of their ships has ever come to light in their home waters,” researchers said.

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The Golden Age of Piracy took place between the 1650s and the 1730s — when pirates operated throughout the Caribbean and other trade routes.

The Bahamas emergedas a center of piracyin the late 17th century, and the release noted that 1,000 pirates and sailors lived in the Nassau port at its peak.

Split image of diver looking at wreck and illustration of pirates

Researchers say newly discovered shipwrecks near Nassau may offer the first direct links to pirates who once operated from The Bahamas.(WreckwatchTV;Culture Club/Getty Images)

One wreck yieldediron cannons, lead musket ballsand a sword sharpener — items researchers said were consistent with piracy during the era.

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The team also foundhull planks, rigging and cargo remains, including glass bottles and bricks from the ship’s galley.

At another wreck, divers found clay tobacco pipes bearing the royal crest of England, suggesting it was an English trading vessel from the 1740s.

“All we can say for sure is right place, right date, right size.”

“The survival of the wreck, heavily smashed by urban construction, is a miracle,” the release said of the find.

“The trader’scargo of wine in glass bottlesand fancy smoking pipes sheds rare light on Nassau becoming a normal port of trade, bouncing back from the pirate anarchy.”

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Project co-director Michael Pateman said “crystal-clear visibility” at one sitehelped researchers identifykey features of an armed wreck.

“The whole wreck was laid out before us,” Pateman said in a statement.“The ship was heavily armed, especially with swivel guns, the cannon of choice for pirates.Slotted onto deck rails, these anti-personnel weapons raked devastating fire on enemy crews.”

Split image of diver holding artifact next to shot of wreck

Investigators recovered cannons, musket balls and other artifacts while surveying historic wreck sites near Nassau.(WreckwatchTV)

For another wreck, Kingsley said a combination of artifacts and structural evidence suggested it was likely a pirate vessel.

“For one site, the smoking gun was literally its iron cannon, a swivel gun, the weapon of choice for pirates, lead musket balls and a sword sharpener,” he said.

“The absence ofcargo like potteryand the narrow width of the ballast mound all point toward a wrecked sloop, the small and swift pirate ‘hot wheels’ of choice.”

The discoveries could shed new light on Nassau’s role as a major center of piracy centuries ago.(WreckwatchTV)

One wreck, a large burned wooden hulldiscovered in Nassau Harbor, sparked speculation that it could be linked to Henry Avery, one of history’s most notorious pirates.

Kingsley said the vessel’s wooden treenails suggest it was built during the late 1600s or early 1700s, though further research is needed to identify the wreck.

“All we can say for sure is right place, right date, right size,” said Kingsley.“The ship needs a lot more science before we can prove that.”

Though pirates are often portrayed as villains, the researchers said many sailors turned to piracy to escape harsh conditions and low pay in the Royal Navy and merchant fleets.

Diver holding artifact next to shot of seafloor

Researchers are using underwater archaeology to better understand life in Nassau during the Golden Age of Piracy.(WreckwatchTV)

“Piracy offered rebels a chance to escape whipping, poor food and worse on navy warships and to earn up to 1,000% more than sailing on regular merchant vessels,” the statement said.

Pateman said, “It might have been a short life, but for a brief period of mayhem, sailors found freedom and wealth unmatched anywhere on earth.That escape was the pirate dream.”

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The expedition was documented by Wreckwatch TV for an upcoming documentary series.

Kingsley hopes to map the entire harbor with an underwater drone — “especially the more dangerous areas,” he said.

Tobacco pipes found among a shipwreck’s remains offered clues about trade and daily life in Nassau after the pirate era.(Wreckwatch TV)

“We’re certain more secrets are hiding there,” Kingsley said.

“The cannon wreck needs recording with multibeam or 3D photography.The wooden hull needs digging to crack its full story and look for cargo and small finds to fine-tune its date.”