Lost pirate ship from 1721 with $138M worth of treasure finally discovered

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An ancient pirate vessel filled with an astounding $138 million in riches was unearthed near Madagascar’s shoreline, more than 300 years following its mysterious disappearance.

The ship known as ‘Our Lady of the Cape’ – meaning ‘Our Lady of the Cape’ – was initially a Portuguese vessel that sailed from India in 1721, carrying important officials, around 200 slaves, and an immense treasure of gold, silver, and precious gems. However, before it could arrive at its destination, it fell victim to one of history’s most infamous pirates: Olivier ‘The Buzzard’ Levasseur.

Levasseur and his crew encountered trouble close to Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, exploiting a ship that had been weakened by a previous storm. The pirates easily overpowered the vessel and steered it towards Nosy Boraha (originally known as Île Sainte-Marie), an island off the east coast of Madagascar.

There, the pirates scuttled the ship and left its treasure lost to time. Until now.

Lost pirate ship with millions of loot finally located

As reported by Popular Mechanics, researchers Brandon Clifford and Mark Agostini, hailing from the Centre for Historic Shipwreck Preservation in America, have unearthed over 3,000 artifacts from a specific site. Remarkably, many of these artifacts correspond with historical records detailing the impressive treasure hoard attributed to Levasseur.

Approximately 400 precious gemstones, 110 diamonds, 250 emeralds, along with gold and silver bars, scarce coins, containers filled with pearls, and exquisite fabrics such as silks and textiles are believed to be part of the treasure. According to experts, this collection would have a minimum value of around $138 million if calculated using today’s currency.

“This is an eye-watering treasure, even by pirate standards,” the researchers said.

The historical accounts mentioned in Denis Piat’s 2014 book “Pirates & Privateers in Mauritius” provide a detailed picture of the treasures, which were said to include massive blocks of gold and chests overflowing with precious pearls.

Although the discovery hasn’t yet been verified by independent sources, Clifford claims it has strong support from various pieces of evidence such as the vessel’s construction, its location, and a precise correlation with 18th-century Portuguese documents.

Agostini underscored the fact that Madagascar is still largely unexplored in terms of maritime archaeology and suggested that further research could uncover numerous shipwrecks in the area. In an ideal world, future excavations would provide opportunities for more detailed investigations into these submerged treasures.

Should it be verified, this find might rank among the most wealth-laden pirate discoveries ever made, representing a significant triumph for scholars pursuing maritime legends.

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2025-07-17 19:49