In news that should make pirate fans weep for joy and ninja fans cringe, researchers now believe they have found the wreckage of Blackbeard’s famous ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, in the briny depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Blackbeard, known as Edward Thatch or Edward Teach, is thought to have run around near Beaufort Inlet, South Carolina. The wreck was first discovered in 1996, but is now only conclusively thought to have belonged to the world’s most famous pirate.
One of the most interesting facts about the find on the Queen Anne’s Revenge is that it contained not just gold and silver coins (though it had those), but it also contained a great deal of looted equipment. Apothecary weights, a mortar and pestle, and even some nautical navigation equipment were recovered from the boat. Apparently, useful tools were very popular among pirates, because they could be resold easily to other sailors and pirates, whereas used gold teeth wouldn’t be easy to get rid of. I guess it’s the 1600’s equivalent of a chop shop.
Since we’re feeling a little nautical now, why not share one of my favorite Flogging Molly songs? It’s called, appropriately enough, Queen Anne’s Revenge.---www.popfi.com