The Pirate Brethren
Articles on
The Art of Reenacting

A List of Artifacts Recovered from
The Wreck of the Pirate Ship
Whydah

The following is a partial list of artifacts recovered from the wreck of the Whydah, as found in the appendix of The Pirate Prince by Barry Clifford and Peter Turchi, published in 1993 by Simon & Schuster.  This list is a partial list on purpose.  Its intent is to cater to the particular interests of the pirate reenactor and the pirate reenacting community.  The interested reader is advised to purchase a copy of Clifford's book.

Some of the terminology used here may be unfamiliar.  Composite describes an artifact composed of multiple materials, eg., an intact carbine.  Protein fiber is cloth derived from an animal (eg., wool, silk).  Bast fiber is cloth derived from the skin surrounding the husk of a plant (eg., linen)Concretion refers to an item yet to be removed from encrustation of sediments and rocks, in a state as found on the seafloor.  Latex artifacts are "ghost" artifacts created by filling cavities inside of a concretion with latex, thus giving an otherwise non-existant item some form.  The Count represents the number if pieces or fragments of a particular type found.  Individual fragments may later be fitted together to form a whole, but the count is still by fragment.

Firearms and Components
Type of Artifact
Material
Count
Butt plate
Brass 2
Carbine
Composite
1
Cloth handle wrap
Protein fiber 21
Cock vise jaw
Iron 7
Escutcheon plate
Brass 2
Foresight
Brass 4
Gun barrel
Composite
2
Gun barrel
Iron 24
Gun barrel
Medium concretion 26
Gun worm
Silver
5
Handgun
Composite
2
Holster
Protein fiber 41
Lock cock
Iron 12
Lock flint
Chalcedony
4
Lock flint patch
Leather 27
Lock frizzen
Iron 3
Lock frizzen spring
Iron 2
Lock main spring
Iron 13
Lock plate
Latex 7
Lock plate (lock)
Latex 9
Lock plate (lock)
Latex 1
Lock plate screw
Iron 1
Lock screw
Iron 2
Lock sear
Iron 1
Lock sear
Latex 2
Lock tumbler
Iron 6
Musket
Composite
5
Musket brace
Brass 1
Musket ramrod
Wood
4
Musket rest
Latex 3
Musket stock
Wood
11
Musket trigger plate
Brass 1
Pistol stock
Small concretion
2
Ramrod
Wood
3
Ramrod pipe
Brass 4
Ramrod pipe
Brass 11
Shotbag
Leather 1
Shotbag parts
Protein fiber 11
Side plate
Brass 4
Side plate
Brass 10
Sling retainer
Brass 2
Trigger guard
Brass 5
Trigger guard Brass 14
Trigger plate
Brass 2
Vise jaw screw
Iron 1
Other arms accessories
Latex 9
Other arms accessories Iron
9


Swords/Blades
Type of Artifact Material Count
Blade
Iron
1
Blade
Iron
2
Blade
Medium concretion
2
Cutlass
Latex
1
Grip
Ivory
1
Grip
Wood
1
Hand guard
Latex
2
Hand guard
Silver
8
Hilt
Brass
2
Hilt
Latex
1
Pike pole
Wood
3
Pommel
Latex
1
Sword/blade belt hook
Silver
3


Weaponry

Type of Artifact Material Count
Fuse
Wood
8
Grenade
Iron
16


Apparel
Type of Artifact Material Count
Buckle
Silver
73
Buck tang
Pewter
1
Button
Silver
35
Clothes hook
Brass
4
Clothing
Bast fiber
153
Cuff link
Brass
14
Footwear
Leather
2
Sock
Protein fiber
1


Galley/Kitchenware
Type of Artifact Material Count
Bottle
Glass
128
Bottle stopper
Cork
2
Coal fuel
Coal
31
Keg spigot
Brass
1
Kettle lug
Brass
2
Kettle rivet
Brass
21
Other preparation vessels
Medium concretion
1


Tableware
Type of Artifact Material Count
Bowl
Earthenware
3
Fork
Iron
2
Knife handle
Wood
2
Plate
Pewter
8
Spoon
Pewter
7
Teapot
Pewter
1


This article to be continued in a future article, Some Observations on Artifacts Recovered from the Whydah.


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