Stunning Discovery on Blackbeard’s Ship Reveals Pirates’ Reading Habits

A paper fragment recovered from the wreck of pirate Blackbeard's ship (North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)/Illustration of Blackbeard Library of Congress

Experts analyzing the remnants of a pirate shipwreck announced a stunning discovery after linking several paper fragments found aboard the vessel to an 18th-century book.

The paper fragments were found aboard the flagship pirate vessel, Queen Anne’s Revenge. The boat ran aground off the coast of North Carolina in 1718, National Geographic reported.