Yo, Ho, Ho
Marine archaeologists are busy excavating what they believe to be the one-time flagship of the notorious pirate Blackbeard. The wreck lies about 1-1/4 miles off the North Carolina coast. They have recovered a fairly large number of artifacts.
This month, a crew of 13 heads out to sea each day, hoping for clear-enough weather to dive the 20 to 25 feet (6 to 7.5 metres) to the ocean bottom to excavate what they believe is Blackbeard's ship.
The team has found cannons, a bell, lead shot of all sizes, gold dust, pewter cups and medical devices, like a urethral syringe used to treat syphilis with mercury.
"A saying at the time was 'a night with Venus and a month with mercury.' And mercury doesn't even cure you," lead archeologist Chris Southerly said in an interview.
In past years, Southerly and his team did spot digs to map the debris field measuring 150 feet by 70 feet (45 metres by 20 metres).
This year, divers are excavating the southern one-third of the site. They use PVC and aluminum pipe to measure five-foot (1.5 meter) squares and meticulously record where objects are found.
But, working 1 1/4 mile off North Carolina, there are problems that landlubber archeologists don't encounter.
"Once we excavate down 2, 3, 4 feet, because of the currents and sand, it falls back in," said Southerly.
There you go, something to take your mind off of politics for a few minutes. There's a pretty good short history of Blackbeard. For something more detailed, here's the museum that is sponsoring the dive team and has pictures of some of the artifacts they have recovered. There's still more here.
By BubbaB, Wednesday, 1 November , 2006 @ 4:02 pm
Yes, it took my mind off politics, alright. They shoved WHAT in WHERE to put WHAT in? I cannot imagine that kind of treatment!! And I am pretty sure it wouldn’t be covered by my insurance program!!
By Gaius, Wednesday, 1 November , 2006 @ 4:19 pm
Heh, I thought that would get people’s attention.