January142011
Mid-17th to early 18th Century sword found on the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the infamous pirate Blackbeard, wrecked off the Outer Banks of North Carolina (US). Edward Teach (var. Thatch) claimed a French slave ship, the Concorde,which he renamed as the Queen Anne’s Revenge.These are the reconstructed remains, as the artifact is in several pieces. The gold quillon (the crossbar of the hilt) originally had some form of chain or strap that connected to the pommel. The hilt is carved from antler, which could perhaps reveal a more specific region of production. The pommel (pictured below) has what appear to be faces and fleurs-de-lis, the latter of which are symbols of French royalty. This could be further evidence of the sword’s country of origin, as it may not have necessarily been on the ship before Blackbeard. (Photographs courtesy Wendy M. Welsh, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources)

Mid-17th to early 18th Century sword found on the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the infamous pirate Blackbeard, wrecked off the Outer Banks of North Carolina (US).

Edward Teach (var. Thatch) claimed a French slave ship, the Concorde,which he renamed as the Queen Anne’s Revenge.These are the reconstructed remains, as the artifact is in several pieces.

The gold quillon (the crossbar of the hilt) originally had some form of chain or strap that connected to the pommel.

The hilt is carved from antler, which could perhaps reveal a more specific region of production. The pommel (pictured below) has what appear to be faces and fleurs-de-lis, the latter of which are symbols of French royalty. This could be further evidence of the sword’s country of origin, as it may not have necessarily been on the ship before Blackbeard.

(Photographs courtesy Wendy M. Welsh, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources)

blackbeard north carolina outer banks pirate pirate ship queen anne's revenge colonial america national geographic nat geo 

December192010

A video introduction to an exhibit at the Smithsonian based on a site just down the road from my college.

For some interesting case files regarding early colonial Chesapeake archaeological sites, click here.

For background on the early settlement in the Chesapeake, click here.

Note:

I was clicking around the site and checked out the webcomic…it’s cheesy but cute and has photographic evidence from the actual case it illustrates. I know it’s a cartoon, but the college student looks and dresses like me. So I’m a little creeped out.

-Lauren

chesapeake colonial america colonial america england 17th century maryland virginia forensic anthropology archaeology 

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