For several decades, archival and historical documents have been highlighting piracy and its actors during this golden age between the years 1650 and 1730, often described as the peak of this phenomenon along the coasts of America, in the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean. These pirates, generally of European origin, report their malicious acts in the warm waters of the West and East Indies. When most of these filibusters remain almost unknown, some become true emblematic and historical characters who marked their time and beyond. Their prizes, journeys, feats of arms, alliances, and death are told by contemporary storytellers and writers like Dani (c. 1645–1707). However, aspects of their daily life on board or ashore, detailed knowledge of their ship, their cargo and treasure, port of call locations, and port cities sometimes remain little mentioned in the literature, failing fiction, of course, but too often far from reality.
The archaeology of piracy can be a way to learn more about the lifestyle of these outlawed seafarers. Little developed in France and in Europe, this recent thematic in archaeology has been conducting archaeological research and excavations for nearly 50 years, between the east coast of the United States, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean where several pirate shipwrecks have been discovered and identified. These scientific programs provide key information for a better knowledge of these sailors, former soldiers or merchants, who have been attracted to a more independent life.
A team of French and international researchers has therefore decided to create in 2019 a research program dedicated to this Archaeology of Piracy from the 17th to 18th centuries in order to enhance investigations in the field and future research (archaeological missions and scientific publications ). In order to have legal support, this research program is based on an ADLP – Archéologie de la Piraterie, association created in September 2019.
The research program is supported by several French and international institutions:
- Centre Michel de Boüard (CRAHAM - UMR 6273 CNRS) de l'Université de Caen Normandie Click here
- Laboratoire des Amériques (ArchAm - UMR 8096 CNRS) de l'Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne Click here
- Laboratoire LandArc Click here
- Société Française d'Histoire Maritime Click here
- Association pour le Développement et la Recherche en Archéologie Maritime (ADRAMAR) Click here
- Center for Historical Archaeology (Florida, USA) Click here
- Institut de Civilisation - Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie (ICMAA) de l'Université d'Antananarivo, Madagascar Click here
- Mauritius Marine Conservation Society (MMCS) Click here
- Mauritius Museums Council Click here
- Société d'Histoire de l'Île Maurice Click here
- Instituto de Arqueologia Nautica y Subacuatica (Santiago du Chili) Click here
This website allows readers to consult work in progress linked to the research program and the association which brings together the main exploration and study missions, from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, the team's publications and communication tools.
The ADLP association is open to everyone. You can support it by joining it and / or by making a donation. This particular budget will be used to facilitate the conduct of future field operations.
You can download our presentation booklet here: adlp-2023-hd.pdf
