Pirates' remains found in shipwreck off Cape Cod
Hearst Television
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The remains of at least six pirates were found in the wreck of a ship that sank off the coast of Cape Cod more than 300 years ago.
The remains were unearthed from The Whydah Galley, a legendary pirate ship that went down off Wellfleet during a nor'easter in April 1717. They were identified in several large concretions and are being examined by a team of archeologists.
“We hope that modern, cutting-edge technology will help us identify these pirates and reunite them with any descendants who could be out there,” said Barry Clifford, who discovered the wreck in 1984 . “This shipwreck is very sacred ground. We know a third of the crew was of African origin and the fact they had robbed the Whydah, which was a slave ship, presents them in a whole new light. Their benevolent captain, the legendary Samuel 'Black Sam' Bellamy and crew were experimenting in democracy long before the so-called civilized societies had considered such a thing.”