Barry Clifford

Who is Barry Clifford?

Barry Clifford is an underwater archaeological explorer best known for discovering the remains of the wrecked ship Whydah in 1984. The Whydah was the first fully verified pirate shipwreck ever discovered – as such, artifacts from the wreck provide unique insights into the material culture of early 18th century piracy.

Clifford has kept The Whydah Collection intact. A selection of artifacts are displayed at the Expedition Whydah Sea-Lab & Learning Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 2007, more artifacts from The Whydah began a major nation-wide traveling museum exhibition called "Real Pirates", under the auspices of the National Geographic Society, Arts & Exhibitions International and Historic Shipwrecks, Inc. The Whydah Project has been the subject of several book and television documentaries on the National Geographic Channel, the Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC One, A&E and others.