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March 28, 2024

UNESCO says Captain Kidd pirate treasure claim is false

Updated Tuesday, July 14, 2015 | 9:57 a.m.

JOHANNESBURG — The account of an American underwater explorer who says he found a silver ingot that belonged to 17th century pirate Captain Kidd in Madagascar is false, the United Nations said Tuesday.

The so-called silver ingot is actually a piece of ballast that consists almost entirely of lead, the U.N. cultural body UNESCO said in a statement. It also dismissed assertions that the shipwreck of the Adventure Galley, a vessel belonging to Captain Kidd, had been found. The underwater structure was instead a broken segment from port construction, it said.

In May, explorer Barry Clifford presented what he said was the silver ingot to Madagascar's president in a ceremony on the island of Sainte Marie, near the country's northeast coast. Clifford's diving team had said the bar was found in a bay off the island.

UNESCO then sent a team to Madagascar to investigate.

William Kidd, known as Captain Kidd, raided ships before being captured and executed in London in 1701.

Sainte Marie island was a hideout for pirates when Captain Kidd was active. The island offered safe harbors and was close to maritime trading routes.

Madagascar's president, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, had said in May that he hoped that the discovery of what Clifford said was a silver ingot would increase Madagascar's international profile and bring more tourists to the island.

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