Barry Clifford
Encyclopedia
Barry Clifford is an underwater archaeological
explorer best known for discovering the remains of the wrecked ship Whydah
in 1984. The Whydah is the only fully verified pirate shipwreck ever discovered, and, as such, artifacts from the wreck provide unique insights into the material culture of 18th century piracy.
Clifford has kept The Whydah Collection intact. A selection of artifacts are displayed at Expedition Whydah Sea-Lab & Learning Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 2007, more artifacts from The Whydah Collection began a major nation-wide traveling exhibition, Real Pirates under the auspices of The National Geographic Society, Arts & Exhibitions International and Historic Shipwrecks, Inc. The Whydah Project has been designated as a National Geographic "Special Event",
, Barry Clifford has been involved in underwater exploration for most of his adult life. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado
, and received graduate training at Bridgewater State College
in Bridgewater, Massachusetts
.
During the 70's and 80's, he also used historical research, remote-sensing techniques, and underwater surveys to locate numerous shipwrecks off Cape Cod and the Islands, as well as in New York's East River, the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean.
In 1989, Clifford’s team located an un-dredged site within Boston’s Inner Harbor with several shipwrecks, and other submerged cultural material, associated with "The Boston Tea Party" and "The Evacuation of Boston" during the American Revolution. In the winter of 1990-1991, underwater surveys for historical shipwreck sites were conducted in 130+ ft. depths in Boston’s Outer Harbor.
Between 1991 and 1994, expeditions were mounted to Panama and Belize that resulted in discovery of a number of shipwrecks-—including the possible wreck site of the Satisfaction, a shipwreck commanded by the buccaneer Henry Morgan during his invasion of Panama in 1669.
From 1993-1996, under the auspices of BBC and The Discovery Channel, Clifford directed underwater survey and ROV examinations—in conjunction with Bentech, British Gas, the British Royal Navy and HRH Prince Andrew—for The Blessing of Burnt Island that sank with the Royal silver of King Charles I in Scotland’s Firth of Forth in 1663. Clifford then initiated survey operations off Virginia resulting in the discovery of a wreck identified as the Spanish treasure galleon La Galga.
In 1998 and 1999 Barry Clifford led two expeditions, under Discovery Channel/BBC-One auspices, to the Isle of Aves off Venezuela, where he discovered nine shipwrecks, wrecked in a 1678 catastrophe that shattered French naval power in the Caribbean.
After discovering and decoding cryptic rock carvings, he then used ground-penetrating radar to locate and chart an apparent tunnel-complex, similar to the Oak Island “Money Pit”, which may have been constructed by late 17th-century pirates.
In an ongoing project, Mr. Clifford is currently working to identify suspected in-situ remains of the Santa Maria—flagship of Christopher Columbus wrecked near modern Cap Haitien Christmas, 1492. His work as a Discovery "Quest" Scholar to locate this site was the subject of a May 2004 Discovery Channel documentary “Quest for Columbus”. Also ongoing off the Haitian coast is an archaeological survey project that has tentatively identified four shipwrecks associated with Henry Morgan, including Morgan’s flagship The Oxford.
His work has been the subject of television documentaries and features as well; including Black Bellamy’s Treasure (PBS), Search for Pirate Gold (Nova). Sea-Raiders (Turner Broadcasting), The Hunt For Amazing Treasures (NBC), Lost Treasure of King Charles I (Discovery Channel), Sea Tales (A&E), Pirates of The Whydah (National Geographic), The Lost Fleet (Discovery Channel/BBC-One), Quest For Captain Kidd (Discovery Channel), Quest for Columbus (Discovery Channel), and The Pirate Code (National Geographic).
A 2002–03 action-adventure television series entitled "Adventure Inc.
" produced by Gale Anne Hurd was "inspired by the real life exploits of explorer Barry Clifford." Clifford is credited as a consultant for that show.
He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club
, a 2005 recipient of The Rolex-Lowell Thomas Award for underwater archaeology, and an Honorary Member of the Boston Marine Society
. In 2006, he was named "Explorer-in-Residence" by the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
A photographer, mountaineer, and jungle explorer, Clifford is also the head of The Center For Historic Shipwreck Preservation, Inc. a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the exploration and preservation of history under the sea.
Underwater archaeology
Underwater archaeology is archaeology practised underwater. As with all other branches of archaeology it evolved from its roots in pre-history and in the classical era to include sites from the historical and industrial eras...
explorer best known for discovering the remains of the wrecked ship Whydah
Whydah Gally
The Whydah Gally was the flagship of the pirate "Black Sam" Bellamy. The ship sank in a storm off Cape Cod on April 26, 1717, taking Bellamy and the majority of his crew with it.-History:...
in 1984. The Whydah is the only fully verified pirate shipwreck ever discovered, and, as such, artifacts from the wreck provide unique insights into the material culture of 18th century piracy.
Clifford has kept The Whydah Collection intact. A selection of artifacts are displayed at Expedition Whydah Sea-Lab & Learning Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 2007, more artifacts from The Whydah Collection began a major nation-wide traveling exhibition, Real Pirates under the auspices of The National Geographic Society, Arts & Exhibitions International and Historic Shipwrecks, Inc. The Whydah Project has been designated as a National Geographic "Special Event",
Early life
Born in 1945 on Cape CodCape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, Barry Clifford has been involved in underwater exploration for most of his adult life. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado
Gunnison, Colorado
The historic City of Gunnison, a Home Rule Municipality, is the county seat and the most populous city of Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,854. It was named in honor of John W...
, and received graduate training at Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater State University is a public liberal-arts college in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is the largest college in the Massachusetts state university system outside of the University of Massachusetts system. The school's mascot is the bear.-History:BSU was founded by...
in Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Bridgewater, please see the article Bridgewater , Massachusetts.The Town of Bridgewater is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, 28 miles south of Boston. At the 2000 Census, the population was 25,185...
.
Early career
Between 1974 and 1984, Clifford organized, directed and conducted underwater construction, oil-spill control, contract sea-rescue and salvage operations, including the salvage/rescue of the M.V.Islander ferry in 1980.During the 70's and 80's, he also used historical research, remote-sensing techniques, and underwater surveys to locate numerous shipwrecks off Cape Cod and the Islands, as well as in New York's East River, the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean.
In 1989, Clifford’s team located an un-dredged site within Boston’s Inner Harbor with several shipwrecks, and other submerged cultural material, associated with "The Boston Tea Party" and "The Evacuation of Boston" during the American Revolution. In the winter of 1990-1991, underwater surveys for historical shipwreck sites were conducted in 130+ ft. depths in Boston’s Outer Harbor.
Between 1991 and 1994, expeditions were mounted to Panama and Belize that resulted in discovery of a number of shipwrecks-—including the possible wreck site of the Satisfaction, a shipwreck commanded by the buccaneer Henry Morgan during his invasion of Panama in 1669.
From 1993-1996, under the auspices of BBC and The Discovery Channel, Clifford directed underwater survey and ROV examinations—in conjunction with Bentech, British Gas, the British Royal Navy and HRH Prince Andrew—for The Blessing of Burnt Island that sank with the Royal silver of King Charles I in Scotland’s Firth of Forth in 1663. Clifford then initiated survey operations off Virginia resulting in the discovery of a wreck identified as the Spanish treasure galleon La Galga.
In 1998 and 1999 Barry Clifford led two expeditions, under Discovery Channel/BBC-One auspices, to the Isle of Aves off Venezuela, where he discovered nine shipwrecks, wrecked in a 1678 catastrophe that shattered French naval power in the Caribbean.
Later career
In 1999 and 2000, Barry Clifford and his Project Team completed three major expeditions to Ile Ste. Marie off Madagascar, as a Discovery Channel Quest initiative. Five shipwreck sites were discovered. One has been tentatively identified as The Adventure Galley (flagship of William Kidd). Another is The Fiery Dragon (commanded by the pirate William Condon, aka Christopher Condent). Two other shipwreck sites are believed to be the Ruparrel, and The Mocha Frigate.After discovering and decoding cryptic rock carvings, he then used ground-penetrating radar to locate and chart an apparent tunnel-complex, similar to the Oak Island “Money Pit”, which may have been constructed by late 17th-century pirates.
In an ongoing project, Mr. Clifford is currently working to identify suspected in-situ remains of the Santa Maria—flagship of Christopher Columbus wrecked near modern Cap Haitien Christmas, 1492. His work as a Discovery "Quest" Scholar to locate this site was the subject of a May 2004 Discovery Channel documentary “Quest for Columbus”. Also ongoing off the Haitian coast is an archaeological survey project that has tentatively identified four shipwrecks associated with Henry Morgan, including Morgan’s flagship The Oxford.
Works
Clifford has authored articles and books on his explorations; including The Pirate Prince, (Prentice Hall/Simon & Schuster, New York, 1993), Expedition Whydah (Harper Collins, New York, 1999), The Lost Fleet (Harper Collins, New York, 2000), Return to Treasure Island (Harper Collins, New York, 2003), They Lived to Tell The Tale (The Explorers’ Club 2007) Real Pirates: The Untold Story…(The National Geographic Society, 2007), and a 2007 National Geographic children's book of the same name.His work has been the subject of television documentaries and features as well; including Black Bellamy’s Treasure (PBS), Search for Pirate Gold (Nova). Sea-Raiders (Turner Broadcasting), The Hunt For Amazing Treasures (NBC), Lost Treasure of King Charles I (Discovery Channel), Sea Tales (A&E), Pirates of The Whydah (National Geographic), The Lost Fleet (Discovery Channel/BBC-One), Quest For Captain Kidd (Discovery Channel), Quest for Columbus (Discovery Channel), and The Pirate Code (National Geographic).
A 2002–03 action-adventure television series entitled "Adventure Inc.
Adventure Inc.
Adventure Inc. is a dramatised adventure television series produced primarily in Canada which aired from September 30, 2002 to May 12, 2003. It was a co-production of Fireworks Entertainment , Tribune Entertainment Tribune Entertainment , M6 , Amy International , and Tele München...
" produced by Gale Anne Hurd was "inspired by the real life exploits of explorer Barry Clifford." Clifford is credited as a consultant for that show.
He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club
The Explorers Club
The Explorers Club is a professional society dedicated to scientific exploration of Earth, its oceans, and outer space. Founded in 1904 in New York City, it currently has 30 branches world wide...
, a 2005 recipient of The Rolex-Lowell Thomas Award for underwater archaeology, and an Honorary Member of the Boston Marine Society
Boston Marine Society
The Boston Marine Society is a charitable organization in Boston, Massachusetts, formed "to 'make navigation more safe' and to relieve members and their families in poverty or other 'adverse accidents in life.'" Membership generally consists of current and former ship captains...
. In 2006, he was named "Explorer-in-Residence" by the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
A photographer, mountaineer, and jungle explorer, Clifford is also the head of The Center For Historic Shipwreck Preservation, Inc. a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the exploration and preservation of history under the sea.