Almost everyone has heard of Blackbeard the Pirate, but many people do not realize that he was a real pirate with a real ship! And the remains of his ship, Queen Anne's Revenge was discovered just off the North Carolina coast in 1996. Since then, a team of archaeologists have been working to excavate the wreck and preserve the remains. While most of what has come off the wreck would not be considered "treasure" in the traditional sense, the artifacts have provided an insightful look into the life of pirates in the 18th century.
In October, Jonathan and Editor Tim visited the Queen Anne's Revenge ("QAR") archaeological site along with Rick Allen who is not only the principal underwater cinematographer for the QAR project, but also an occasional Blue World cameraman. The underwater visibility on the site was outstanding at about 8 feet (!) and we filmed the cannons and other artifacts that were being prepared for retrieval. In addition, we visited the lab where the artifacts are being preserved for exhibit in a museum. This exciting segment will not only provide a glmpse into the past, but show how science and chemistry can help bring history to life!
-Jonathan
