Archaeologists Plunder Blackbeard's Ship

Avast, ye mateys! More bounty from famed pirate Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, has been plundered, with archaeologists hauling another five cannons from the wreckage off North Carolina's coast on Monday, reports Popular Science. "This is a red letter day. Five cannons is the most we have ever picked up in a single day," says one of the scientists, per the Cartaret County New-Times.

The scientists say the 2,000- and 3,000-pound cannons found this week would all have shot six-pound cannonballs, which Popular Science notes could have traveled two miles. With this haul, they have now raised 22 cannons from the ship—and hope to find more soon. "We know the records state that the Queen Anne’s Revenge had 40 cannons, and I believe we’ll find some more before it’s all over, but I'm not sure if we'll find all 40," says the project director. Marine archaeologists have previously recovered some pretty terrifying and ingenious weapons from the ship, which sank in 1718. (More cannon stories.)