A team of filmmakers and archaeologists has announced the discovery of six shipwrecks near Nassau, in the Bahamas, with three believed to date back to the Golden Age of Piracy. This marks the first time shipwrecks linked to the historical pirates of Nassau have been found in their home waters.
The Golden Age of Piracy, spanning from the 1650s to the 1730s, saw pirates operating extensively throughout the Caribbean. The Bahamas, and Nassau in particular, became a significant hub for piracy, with as many as 1,000 pirates and sailors residing in the port at its peak during the late 17th century.
Artifacts recovered from one wreck site, including iron cannons, lead musket balls, and a sword sharpener, are consistent with piracy during the era. The site also yielded hull planks, rigging, and remnants of galley cargo such as glass bottles and bricks.
Divers at another wreck discovered clay tobacco pipes bearing the English royal crest, suggesting it was an English trading vessel from the 1740s. Researchers noted that the survival of this wreck, despite damage from urban construction, is remarkable. The cargo, including wine bottles and smoking pipes, offers insight into Nassau's transition into a legitimate trading port following the era of pirate activity.
Ship Features and Pirate Clues
Project co-director Michael Pateman described the exceptional visibility at one site, which allowed researchers to identify key features of an armed wreck. "The whole wreck was laid out before us," Pateman stated. "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."
Marine archaeologist Sean Kingsley, who co-directed the expedition, indicated that evidence pointed to one wreck being 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," Kingsley said. He added that the absence of typical cargo, such as pottery, and the narrow ballast mound suggest the wreck of a sloop, a type of small, fast vessel favored by pirates.
While no specific pirate crew has been identified, researchers found several indicators of pirate activity. One notable discovery is a large, burned wooden hull in Nassau Harbor, which has sparked speculation about a possible link to the notorious pirate Henry Avery. The vessel's wooden treenails suggest it was constructed in the late 17th or early 18th century, although further research is required for definitive identification.
Historical Context of Piracy
Researchers highlighted that many individuals turned to piracy to escape harsh conditions and low pay in the Royal Navy and merchant fleets. "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 expedition statement noted. Pateman commented, "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."
The New Providence Pirates Expedition and Wreckwatch TV documented their findings for an upcoming documentary series. Kingsley expressed hopes to map the entire harbor using an underwater drone, particularly in more hazardous areas, believing that "more secrets are hiding there." Future research will involve detailed recording of the cannon wreck and excavation of the wooden hull to uncover more artifacts and precisely date the vessel.