Archaeologists Say They've Found a Legendary Pirate Ship, Rewriting History

Archaeologists accidental they person discovered a legendary pirate shipwreck disconnected the seashore of Madagascar.

The findings were announced successful a probe nonfiction by Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini of the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation successful Massachusetts.

"This survey presents archaeological grounds supporting the recognition of a unsocial 18th-century shipwreck astatine Îlot Madame, disconnected the seashore of Sainte-Marie Island, Madagascar, arsenic the Nossa Senhora bash Cabo, a Portuguese treasure vessel captured by pirates Olivier Levasseur (La Buse) and John Taylor successful 1721," they wrote.

Levasseur was "a French buccaneer colloquially known arsenic La Buse oregon ‘The Buzzard’ for his swift and predatory tactics, remains 1 of the astir enigmatic figures successful the captivating past of piracy," Discovery Channel UK notes.

According to the Golden Age of Piracy, the seizure of the Nostra Senora della Cabo was a famed heist that saw the 2 pirates "capture a monolithic Portuguese treasure vessel sailing retired of the metropolis of Goa. The monolithic 700-ton vessel was carrying the Bishop of Goa, besides known arsenic the Patriarch of the East Indies on with the retiring Viceroy of Portugal. They were some returning to Lisbon with each of their wealthiness and artifacts erstwhile the vessel was damaged successful a storm."

What's the evidence?

"Artifacts recovered from the tract see exported Chinese porcelain, spiritual artifacts of Goan origin, coinage, cowrie shells, and operation materials accordant with Portuguese East Indian design," the researchers wrote. "The archaeological assemblage recovered from the tract corresponds with humanities descriptions of the Cabo’s cargo, route, and consequent refit and last renaming by La Buse arsenic the Victorieux."

Their findings are rewriting history.

"Our mentation of the tract arsenic the Cabo, supported by archaeological grounds and humanities accounts, overturns contradictory narratives astir the destiny of the vessel. For example, 1 relationship reports however the vessel was wrecked astatine Cape Amber," they wrote.

"Rather, our investigations align with competing recollections that alternatively the vas was yet abandoned, and apt partially burned, astatine Sainte-Marie. Broadly, this archaeological lawsuit survey presents caller insights into piracy, planetary trade, and assemblage powerfulness successful the occidental Indian Ocean," they added.

The country was a haven for pirates.

le Sainte-Marie, located disconnected the northeast seashore of Madagascar, "occupies a cardinal spot successful the maritime past of the occidental Indian Ocean. Its earthy harbor, comparatively protected from monsoon systems and determination currents, made it a strategical node for some morganatic commercialized and illicit maritime enactment during the 17th and 18th centuries," they wrote.

"Although the land had been known to Arab mariners since astatine slightest the 12th century, it was not until the alleged Golden Age of Piracy (1650–1725 CE) that Sainte-Marie emerged arsenic a important basal of operations for European pirates, including figures specified arsenic Henry Avery, William Kidd, Christopher Condent, and Olivier Levasseur."

Related: Archaeologists Announce Major Neanderthal Finding

Archaeologists Say They've Found a Legendary Pirate Ship, Rewriting History archetypal appeared connected Men's Journal connected Jul 11, 2025