Archaeologists Locate Legendary 300 Year Old Shipwreck Packed With Millions In Pirate Loot

Archaeologists have identified the wreckage of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo, a Portuguese vessel captured during one of the most audacious raids of the Golden Age of Piracy. The discovery, confirmed after a 16-year investigation, brings to light the final resting place of a ship famously seized by the pirate captain Olivier “The Buzzard” Levasseur in 1721.

The research team from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation conducted their survey in a harbor off the coast of Nosy Boraha, formerly known as Île Sainte-Marie. During the early 18th century, this island served as a notorious sanctuary for European pirates seeking to avoid colonial reach while lurking near busy Indian Ocean trade routes.

A High-Stakes Maritime Heist

The Nossa Senhora do Cabo, or “Our Lady of the Cape,” was en route from Goa to Lisbon when it was intercepted near La Réunion on April 8, 1721. Carrying the outgoing Portuguese viceroy and the Archbishop of Goa, the vessel was already vulnerable; it had sustained severe storm damage and had jettisoned much of its artillery to remain buoyant. The surrender to Levasseur’s pirate fleet was reportedly swift.

Historical accounts, such as those detailed in Denis Piat’s Pirates & Privateers in Mauritius, suggest the ship’s cargo was immense. Researchers Brandon Clifford and Mark Agostini estimate the value of the stolen pearls, gold ingots, and general cargo would exceed $138 million in modern currency. While the viceroy was eventually ransomed, the fate of the archbishop remains an enduring historical enigma, as does the disappearance of approximately 200 enslaved people who were being transported on the ship from Mozambique.

Evidence from the Ocean Floor

According to findings published in Wreckwatch, the identification of the wreck is based on a synthesis of structural analysis, recovered artifacts, and archival records. Divers have successfully retrieved more than 3,300 items from the site, including ballast stones, wooden hull remnants, and pieces of fine porcelain. Perhaps most telling are the religious items, which experts believe originated in Goa: a wooden figurine of Mary, a fragmented crucifix, and an ivory plaque inscribed with the letters “INRI” in gold.

As Live Science reports, the site contains significant physical evidence linking it to the period of the pirate raid. Sonar scans of the harbor reveal the presence of multiple shipwrecks, with overlapping ballast piles suggesting that at least four pirate-related vessels or their prizes are resting in the immediate vicinity.

The Pirate Legacy of Île Sainte-Marie

The pirates eventually brought their prize roughly 400 miles (650 kilometers) west to Madagascar, where they could safely partition their stolen wealth. The island became a legendary hub for buccaneers who exploited its sheltered anchorages and the distinct lack of colonial oversight.

Despite the historical significance of the region, Agostini notes that the area has long been overlooked by the scientific community. The thick layers of sediment and sand covering the seabed present ongoing challenges for recovery efforts, yet the researchers remain optimistic about future exploration. “Ideally, future fieldwork will lead to more analysis of the many wrecks there,” Agostini said.