A Dazzling Pirate Hoard Has Been Discovered Off The Coast Of Massachusetts

The Whydah Gally was a pirate ship that sank off the coast of Cape Cod. The Whydah originally began its life as a slave ship in 1715 and became a pirate ship in 1717. The vessel was captained at various points by Lawrence Prince – who once sailed with Henry Morgan – and "Black Sam" Bellamy. It sank about four miles off the coast of Wellfleet in April of 1717 due to a severe storm.

In 1984, archaeologist Barry Clifford discovered the wreck of the ship. It remains the only fully authenticated pirate ship in the world. Plenty of treasures were recovered from the Whydah after its initial discovery, including cannons, chests of silver, clothing, and bones. Now, more pirate loot is being unearthed.

The latest expedition to recover treasure from the Whydah has yielded incredible finds. More than 600 manilla bracelets were pulled from the wreck this fall. These bracelets are made of copper and bronze and were once a form of currency on the West African coast. Archaeologists have also discovered a musket and other precious artifacts.