There are shipwrecks resting in the depths of the oceans and other bodies of water all over the world. Historical records tell us what befell some of these ships. Some vessels went down in turbulent weather or because of navigational errors. Others became unseaworthy, perhaps because crew members were negligent in some way. Still others fell victim to attacks by enemies in wartime or by pirates. But in some cases, we may never know the causes.
Treasure hunters dream of finding gold and jewels in the wrecks of pirate ships, but the real treasures are the ships
themselves. For that reason, scientists and historians believe it is crucial to safeguard these underwater sites from those with purely mercenary interests.
A wreck believed to be the pirate Blackbeard’s warship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, was located off the coast of North Carolina in 1996. Although underwater archaeologists did not find the pirate’s loot, they did find priceless artifacts, including cannons, anchors, and a brass bell dated 1709. At the bottom of Lake Champlain, marine explorers have discovered a Revolutionary War gunboat from the victorious fleet commanded by Benedict Arnold in 1776.
The wrecks of ancient wooden ships are vulnerable to the damage caused by water and by wood borers, tiny sea creatures that feast on rotting timbers. Often little is left of such ships except the remains of their cargoes. But in 2000, explorers made an amazing discovery: an elaborately carved wooden ship from the Roman era. It is believed to be about 1,500 years old, and its deck is intact. The ship lies at the bottom of a 650-foot abyss in the Black Sea. At that depth, the waters are almost still, and there is no oxygen. Without oxygen, wood borers perish, but that same lack of oxygen has preserved the ship. Who knows what treasures this spectacular wreck will yield?