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Rubble trouble or Kidd's stuff? Pirate ship hunter says he’s not sunk yet Rubble trouble or Kidd's stuff? Pirate ship hunter says he’s not sunk yet
(about 2 hours later)
Barry Clifford was once dubbed the Pirate Prince. He was catapulted to fame three decades ago when he discovered a famous sunken 18th-century ship close to his Cape Cod home.Barry Clifford was once dubbed the Pirate Prince. He was catapulted to fame three decades ago when he discovered a famous sunken 18th-century ship close to his Cape Cod home.
The self-styled pirate ship hunter recently thought he had hit the jackpot again, first by finding the wreck of notorious Scottish pirate Captain Kidd’s ship off Madagascar, and then with another astonishing haul: a 50kg silver bar that the Madagascan president presented to the world in May as possible evidence of Kidd’s buried treasure.The self-styled pirate ship hunter recently thought he had hit the jackpot again, first by finding the wreck of notorious Scottish pirate Captain Kidd’s ship off Madagascar, and then with another astonishing haul: a 50kg silver bar that the Madagascan president presented to the world in May as possible evidence of Kidd’s buried treasure.
But Clifford’s reputation has dropped off the plank after Unesco published a report saying the bar was 95% lead and and that the shipwreck was, to put it bluntly, not even a ship.But Clifford’s reputation has dropped off the plank after Unesco published a report saying the bar was 95% lead and and that the shipwreck was, to put it bluntly, not even a ship.
After visiting the site for four days, the UN body said the “ingot” had been identified as “a lead-ballast piece” and that the shipwreck was in fact construction rubble.After visiting the site for four days, the UN body said the “ingot” had been identified as “a lead-ballast piece” and that the shipwreck was in fact construction rubble.
Clifford and Unesco have history. Last year, he suggested he had identified the wreck of Christopher Columbus’s flagship Santa Maria off the northern coast of Haiti, only for Unesco to determine that it had come from a later period.Clifford and Unesco have history. Last year, he suggested he had identified the wreck of Christopher Columbus’s flagship Santa Maria off the northern coast of Haiti, only for Unesco to determine that it had come from a later period.
The 70-year-old sea dog says he is not sunk yet, and ferociously disputes the body’s findings. “This blatant example of incompetence should open the public’s eyes,” he told the Guardian. “Unesco’s professional archaeologists confused a 19th-20th century dock with a 17th-18th century shipwreck.”The 70-year-old sea dog says he is not sunk yet, and ferociously disputes the body’s findings. “This blatant example of incompetence should open the public’s eyes,” he told the Guardian. “Unesco’s professional archaeologists confused a 19th-20th century dock with a 17th-18th century shipwreck.”
Clifford admits he is not a qualified archaeologist, but says he has devoted his career to “pirate ship hunting” and acquired significant expertise. In 1984, he found the sunken pirate ship the Whydah, an enormous feat that he says cost him $6m and his marriage. Kidd’s ship the Adventure Galley was built in the same Deptford shipyard, and Clifford said he aimed to bring both ships to exhibit in London.Clifford admits he is not a qualified archaeologist, but says he has devoted his career to “pirate ship hunting” and acquired significant expertise. In 1984, he found the sunken pirate ship the Whydah, an enormous feat that he says cost him $6m and his marriage. Kidd’s ship the Adventure Galley was built in the same Deptford shipyard, and Clifford said he aimed to bring both ships to exhibit in London.
“My only aim was to find Captain Kidd’s ship. I had no idea about any treasure aboard,” Clifford said. Indeed, records suggest the notorious pirate did not leave any treasure on the Adventure Galley when he careened it in the shallow waters near Sainte Marie Island in 1698, stripped it of all value, and burned it. “My only aim was to find Captain Kidd’s ship. I had no idea about any treasure aboard,” Clifford said. Indeed, records suggest the notorious pirate did not leave any treasure on the Adventure Galley when he careened it in the shallow waters near Sainte-Marie Island in 1698, stripped it of all value, and burned it.
Clifford’s team had been filming a separate documentary earlier this year, when Clifford said he decided to go for a final dive down to what he believed was the Adventure Galley’s cabin. In the blackness of the wreckage, the ceiling caved in, and he was hit hard on the head, leaving an enormous bruise. When he tapped what had hit him with the edge of his knife, the object rang like a bell.Clifford’s team had been filming a separate documentary earlier this year, when Clifford said he decided to go for a final dive down to what he believed was the Adventure Galley’s cabin. In the blackness of the wreckage, the ceiling caved in, and he was hit hard on the head, leaving an enormous bruise. When he tapped what had hit him with the edge of his knife, the object rang like a bell.
“Treasure was so far from my mind,” he said. “But lead doesn’t ring like that.”“Treasure was so far from my mind,” he said. “But lead doesn’t ring like that.”
Clifford said members of his team also believed it was a silver bar, and reported his findings to Madagascan authorities who “told the entire world”.Clifford said members of his team also believed it was a silver bar, and reported his findings to Madagascan authorities who “told the entire world”.
“I hadn’t tested it,” he said. “Investigating takes us years.”“I hadn’t tested it,” he said. “Investigating takes us years.”
Back in May, however, Clifford sounded confident. “While investigating the shipwreck I believe to be Captain Kidd’s Adventure Galley I uncovered a giant silver bar,” he told the History Channel. “All the evidence points to it being part of Captain Kidd’s treasure.”Back in May, however, Clifford sounded confident. “While investigating the shipwreck I believe to be Captain Kidd’s Adventure Galley I uncovered a giant silver bar,” he told the History Channel. “All the evidence points to it being part of Captain Kidd’s treasure.”
Unesco’s assertion about the bar being mostly lead would have been disheartening enough, but Clifford really objects to Unesco’s description of his pirate ship as just “a broken part of the Sainte-Marie port constructions”.Unesco’s assertion about the bar being mostly lead would have been disheartening enough, but Clifford really objects to Unesco’s description of his pirate ship as just “a broken part of the Sainte-Marie port constructions”.
“It is a shipwreck,” he insisted. “For the sake of argument, say this isn’t the Adventure Galley. But if you see a Rolls-Royce, you don’t mix it up with a garage.”“It is a shipwreck,” he insisted. “For the sake of argument, say this isn’t the Adventure Galley. But if you see a Rolls-Royce, you don’t mix it up with a garage.”
Clifford admits he had not tested the timber to see if it was the same English oak as the Whydah. “This project could have been ongoing for another 10 years, we didn’t expect to have answers tomorrow,” he said.Clifford admits he had not tested the timber to see if it was the same English oak as the Whydah. “This project could have been ongoing for another 10 years, we didn’t expect to have answers tomorrow,” he said.
Prof Charles Beeker, Indiana University’s director of underwater science, who discovered another of Kidd’s ships himself, said a mix-up was possible. “It is very likely over the years a jetty would also be placed adjacent, even perhaps using shipwreck as part of jetty,” he said. Prof Charles Beeker, Indiana University’s director of underwater science, who discovered another of Kidd’s ships himself, said a mix-up was possible. “It is very likely over the years a jetty would also be placed adjacent, even perhaps using a shipwreck as part of the jetty,” he said.
But Beeker, who collaborated with Clifford on the Columbus flagship investigation, said he had concerns about Unesco, whose rejection of his and Clifford’s research came “with a report I would not have accepted from a graduate student”.But Beeker, who collaborated with Clifford on the Columbus flagship investigation, said he had concerns about Unesco, whose rejection of his and Clifford’s research came “with a report I would not have accepted from a graduate student”.
“What Barry proposes is possible, jetty or not,” he said. “As the person that proved the Adventure Prize [Kidd’s other ship] I know what evidence is necessary for proof, but rejection seems easier if you have the political will.”“What Barry proposes is possible, jetty or not,” he said. “As the person that proved the Adventure Prize [Kidd’s other ship] I know what evidence is necessary for proof, but rejection seems easier if you have the political will.”
Others are more sceptical. Prof Robert Ritchie, author of Captain Kidd and the War Against The Pirates, said the Adventure Galley was in “bad shape” by the time it arrived in Madagascar. “Three hundred years later, what remains in a tropical climate on an island hit often by the monsoon is unlikely to be much,” he said. Others are more sceptical. Prof Robert Ritchie, author of Captain Kidd and the War Against The Pirates, said the Adventure Galley was in bad shape by the time it arrived in Madagascar. “300 years later, what remains in a tropical climate on an island hit often by the monsoon is unlikely to be much,” he said.
Ritchie described Clifford as “an intrepid underwater archaeologist … who has now seized on Kidd as his ticket as he needs sponsors and it has worked for him so far”.Ritchie described Clifford as “an intrepid underwater archaeologist … who has now seized on Kidd as his ticket as he needs sponsors and it has worked for him so far”.
“But I think he is pushing it when everything that comes up is from Kidd’s ship,” he said, “especially in a harbour known to have other sunken vessels.”“But I think he is pushing it when everything that comes up is from Kidd’s ship,” he said, “especially in a harbour known to have other sunken vessels.”
Clifford said he could offer no explanation as to why Unesco would file such a damning report, apart from what he says is anti-American bias. “They hate private enterprise. It has been terrible for me, and my family,” he said. “I’ve never sold a single artefact. But they have destroyed me.”Clifford said he could offer no explanation as to why Unesco would file such a damning report, apart from what he says is anti-American bias. “They hate private enterprise. It has been terrible for me, and my family,” he said. “I’ve never sold a single artefact. But they have destroyed me.”