The Original Pirates of the Caribbean: Vessel Shipwrecked by Captain Kidd in 1699 is Discovered

Whether as a child or adult, many people have read about the adventures of the notorious 17th century pirate, Captain William Kidd. Was it true that he ditched one of his ships, and buried its treasures with it? Speculation and rumors have run rampant for centuries.

Researchers at the University of Indiana have made an important discovery. They have discovered the remains of the shipwrecked vessel, originally named the Quedah Merchant, in the Caribbean. The ship was lost over 300 years ago, in 1699.

Details were announced in a recent press release. The University of Indiana has been licensed to convert the site of the wreckage into an underwater preserve, and study the wreckage, too. Since it will be an underwater preserve, this wreck will be accessible to members of the public.

The Quedagh Merchant, was found in just 10 feet of water, 70 feet from Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic. For centuries treasure hunters have been looking for the Quedagh Merchant.

This is an important discovery because it will provide extensive information about history. Researchers will also be able to compare historical information with the actual archaeological records from the Quedagh Merchant.

A rare find, researchers plan to conduct a thorough and meticulous study of the Quedagh Merchant. This will include how it was used, what contents were carried or may still be on the ship, its armament, its construction, and how the ship was wrecked.

While no one knows, researchers and archaeologists eagerly anticipate learning bits and pieces of information about the scandalous Capt. Kidd and pirates in the Caribbean.

Was Captain Kidd a privateer (someone who was involved in capturing pirates), or was he simply a pirate? Was he as ruthless as the rumors reported, or were these stories overblown? Researchers hope that they will be able to find clues about Captain Kidd, and other pirates in the Caribbean, as they comb through every corner of the Quedagh Merchant.

"I've been on literally thousands of shipwrecks in my career. This is one of the first sites I've been on where I haven't seen any looting. We've got a shipwreck in crystal clear, pristine water that's amazingly untouched. We want to keep it that way, so we made the announcement now to ensure the site's protection from looters," said Charles Beeker, director of Academic Diving and Underwater Science Programs in IU Bloomington's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

Sources:
http://www.newswise.com/p/articles/view/536241/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kidd