Understanding “Concretion” in Treasure Hunting 

In recent blog entries, we discussed the History Channel’s show Beyond Oak Island and the salvaging of Captain Black Sam Bellamy’s ship – the Whydah off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We discussed the treasure-hunting quests of Rick Lagina, Tony Sampson, and Matty Blake across the globe, revealing amazing new details and clues from past searches for treasure. 

The History Channel episode we took a deeper examination of was “Captain Bellamy’s Bounty,” which told the story of Barry and Brandon Clifford, a father-son team who obtained the exclusive salvage rights to the wreckage of the Whydah that was discovered in the waters off Cape Cod in Orleans, Massachusetts. 

A Little Background of the Whydah Excavation

The Whydah was lost to the sea on April 26, 1717, in a freak nor’easter common to the New England area. The five tons of treasure of gold, silver, and jewels the ship was carrying is believed to be at the bottom of the ocean under layers of cobblestone, sand, and clay. 

It is of great importance to us here at Real Pirates Salem because we showcase many of the artifacts found at the wreckage site such as coins, tools, and parts of weaponry (pistols) common in the 1700s. 

According to two survivors of the wreck and historical records, the ship’s bounty was being held in the cannon area of the ship and would probably be found under the tons of concretion of cannons previously explored. The process of concretion is what we are exploring today. 

Concretion and Its Role in Treasure Hunting 

Part of the treasure hunting process is dealing with something archeologists and excavators call concretions. To the untrained eye, rocks and collections of sediment may appear to be nothing on the ocean floor. However, archeologists and treasure hunters know that these concrete-like collections of sediment may be hiding something of historical value underneath them. 

What is a Concretion?

Concretions are a common geological structure. The word “concretion” is derived from the Latin words “con” – meaning “together” – and “cresco” – meaning “to grow.” It is defined as a hard solid mass formed by the local accumulation of matter, especially within the body or within a mass of sediment. Sediment collects around a nucleus – in this case, an artifact – and begins to grow in size. 

According to archeologists at Pacific Northwest Adventures, “Concretions vary in size, shape, hardness, and color, from objects that require a magnifying lens to be visible to huge bodies 10 feet in diameter and weighing several hundred pounds.” 

The treasure of the wreckage of the pirate ship the Whydah, was found in concretions as well as layers and layers of silt and rocks. The program Beyond Oak Island explored several artifacts surrounded by these concretions. During your time at Real Pirates Salem, you will have an opportunity to witness firsthand the artifacts that have been covered in concretions for nearly 300 years at the ocean’s bottom. Learn how scientists uncover and recover the artifacts and restore them to their original form. In the process, you will learn more about the science behind treasure hunting as well as more about the life of a pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy.