Originally published on 08 May, 2015
A team of divers say they have discovered treasure that could have belonged to the infamous 17th-Century Scottish pirate Captain William Kidd.
The diving team discovered a silver bar weighing 50 kg (7st 9 lb) in waters around Madagascar and brought it to shore on Thursday to the island of Sainte Marie. The explorers say it could have come from the wreck of Kidd’s ship, the Adventure Galley.
The silver bar was presented to Madagascar's president at a special ceremony.
U.S. explorer, Barry Clifford, who led the diving team, says he believes there are many more such bars still under water.
Capt Kidd was first appointed by the British authorities to tackle piracy but was said to later become a ruthless criminal, according to the BBC.
Kidd’s most famous capture was the 400-tonne Quedah Merchant, which was carrying satin, muslin, gold and silver. However, the ship’s captain was apparently an Englishman, with the ship’s inventory supposedly belonging to the East India Trading company.
Kidd was captured and sent to London, where he was found guilty of piracy and the murder of one of his crewmen in 1697. He was sentenced to death by hanging in 1701, which was only successful on the third try after the first two ropes snapped, according to The Guardian.
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