Back in 1701 Captain William Kidd was convicted of piracy and hung by the neck - twice in fact, since the hangman’s rope broke the first time.

The legendary Captain Kidd had actually sailed to his death. However, not on a ship and sunk in any battle, but on a trip to New York and then Boston where he went in an attempt to clear his name.

While he had proclaimed he was an authorized privateer, he was arrested and went on trial as a pirate. He lost his legal battle in a notorious trial and then his life.

In a historical and amazing discovery, archaeologists have uncovered what they believe to be Captain Kidd’s ship, the Quedagh Merchant, in 10ft of water off the Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic. The same ship historians believe he had abandoned on his way to New York.

Here’s Associated Press video footage of the discovery (no voiceover):