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Was pirate Black Sam Bellamy found? DNA test could tell

YARMOUTH, Mass. — Researchers say they're working to use DNA to identify whether a human bone recovered from a Cape Cod shipwreck belongs to the infamous pirate Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy.

The Whydah (WIH'-duh) Pirate Museum in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, publicly displayed the bone Monday. The bone was found near what is believed to be Bellamy's pistol.

The objects were pulled from the Whydah Gally shipwreck several years ago.

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AHOY, MATEY! Whydah Pirate Museum in Yarmouth discussing efforts to see if bones belong to pirate

Posted by Boston 25 News on Monday, February 19, 2018

The museum has enlisted forensic scientists to extract DNA and compare it with DNA from a living Bellamy descendant. Testing will take about a month once it gets the sample.

The Whydah sank in 1717. The wreck was discovered in 1984. Most of its treasure is thought to remain on the ocean floor.

The museum calls it America's version of King Tut's tomb.