Southern_Digger
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I should write a paper on this because... after admiring John's flyer on the upcoming cookout, I googled the "Origin of the Pirate Flag." I was flabbergasted by an ignorant statement indicating that, it is unknown how the pirate flag originated other than being designed as a warning by pirates. Whoever made that statement never read some nineteenth century sources; and studied the habits of Florida and other Caribe's culture. If they did some research, it would have hit them like a ton of bricks. In other words, whoever came up with that conclusion did not look at the obvious.
It is factual that Florida Native Indians played a role in its development. I will start in the nineteenth century and work backwards. When I can, I will provide vague sources. These sources exist, I just cannot recall exactly where I read it so I must be evasive. I will ask anyone who reads this to help me by answering a closing question. It regards early Florida and Carribean maps. My Florida research mostly regards nineteenth century Florida and those were the maps I reviewed and purchased (75 maps) while researching at the Cartography Division, then located across the river from Washington, D.C.. I need a source of early Florida maps that indicate symbols along the coast--if such exists...
First, I recall in research, reading a note regarding shipwreck salvors and foreign ships flying the "Black Flag." I believe the source was from a navy or Revenue Marine logbook I read in DC when they were referring to shipwrecks along the coast; and making an attempts to burn shipwrecks before Indians could obtain lead and other articles from them to aid them in prolonging the war. (circa 1838-42).
Hence, we know, and the googled information agrees that the black flag was a warning sign that represents death and a ship flying that flag was a pirate or a salvor with no representing country (such as a privateer) and with no regard to laws of the sea. Of course, the Black Flag was not intended to represent piracy--Just warning of death. The origin of the Black Flag does not paint a pretty picture... This came about probably as far as the Black Plague in Europe where the Black Flag was flown to warn people to stay away from villages due to contagious disease. Of course, it was used in the United States.
In reading Niles National Register: a grouping of article exerpts from US Newspapers-- such as the Charleston Courier; New Orleans Paper; ect.,. They write about the humility of Yellow Jack (Yellow Fever) entering the country on foreign slave ships. These articles were loaded with statements about the humility of their conditions; the humility the nation must endure as deaths climb into the hundreds and the cities must fly the Black Flag, thus warning all who enters.
In the nineteenth century, the Black Flag on a vessel also meant the crew or cargo was carrying the plague. However, most avoided to fly the Black Flag and warn others for two reasons: First, economics--to market their cargo; and second, to quickly unload the contagious victims and avoid exposing themselves. Any vessel flying the Black Flag would not be allowed to enter port and unload. Ships were turned away when the black flag was raised up the mast.
The skull and crossbones:
This was not conjured up in some pirates head. This symbol was also a symbol of death and it was attained from the wild Florida Indians; and perhaps, other Caribe Indians in the Island. It was first used as a warning sign by early explorers to avoid these areas. The native population was violent; massacring shipwreck survivors. Furthermore, survivors witnessed their habit of cannibalism. These original Florida tribes would take their tribal members who were deceased, dress them in ceremonial; beads; gold; silver; shells; ect. However, their enemy, even from other tribes would be burned; and sometimes, devoured.
However, regarding their own people arnd ceremonial burials.....They would suspend the body from crosspoles and let nature take its course. These practices were at sacred sites. When the tribe returned later. They would gather the bones and place them in a ceremonial burial mounds. The bones would be crossed and the skull set atop the bones. Sometimes, a favorite item in life belonging to the departed would be buried with the bones. I worked on one such bundle burial site--not to dig, but to assist our first county archeologist who found the site, to assemble graphics. I did a drawing (graphics) of the mound based on her measurements and field sketches and photographs. It was published in the Florida Anthropology Magazine in the late 1970's. The bones were crossed just as represented on pirate flags and the skull was positioned atop the bones. The bundle burial, found in Pompano Beach, Florda or thereabouts, contained a wooden canoe paddle; and it pre-dated European contact. Notably, the treasures such as glass beads; gold and silver beads; ect.,.found in these post-European contact Caloosa burial sites, are strewn in the soil off burial mounds--not on the mounds; but generally in close proximity to them. To the Europeans, these bundle burials was a sign that they were dealing with a violent people, hence, the skull and crossbones became a warning sign, perhaps placed first on maps, before being adopted to pirate flags.
My question:
Does anyone out their know of pre-1700 maps of Florida or the Caribbean that display Skull and crossbone symbols?
To find such would further validate the obvious.
It is factual that Florida Native Indians played a role in its development. I will start in the nineteenth century and work backwards. When I can, I will provide vague sources. These sources exist, I just cannot recall exactly where I read it so I must be evasive. I will ask anyone who reads this to help me by answering a closing question. It regards early Florida and Carribean maps. My Florida research mostly regards nineteenth century Florida and those were the maps I reviewed and purchased (75 maps) while researching at the Cartography Division, then located across the river from Washington, D.C.. I need a source of early Florida maps that indicate symbols along the coast--if such exists...
First, I recall in research, reading a note regarding shipwreck salvors and foreign ships flying the "Black Flag." I believe the source was from a navy or Revenue Marine logbook I read in DC when they were referring to shipwrecks along the coast; and making an attempts to burn shipwrecks before Indians could obtain lead and other articles from them to aid them in prolonging the war. (circa 1838-42).
Hence, we know, and the googled information agrees that the black flag was a warning sign that represents death and a ship flying that flag was a pirate or a salvor with no representing country (such as a privateer) and with no regard to laws of the sea. Of course, the Black Flag was not intended to represent piracy--Just warning of death. The origin of the Black Flag does not paint a pretty picture... This came about probably as far as the Black Plague in Europe where the Black Flag was flown to warn people to stay away from villages due to contagious disease. Of course, it was used in the United States.
In reading Niles National Register: a grouping of article exerpts from US Newspapers-- such as the Charleston Courier; New Orleans Paper; ect.,. They write about the humility of Yellow Jack (Yellow Fever) entering the country on foreign slave ships. These articles were loaded with statements about the humility of their conditions; the humility the nation must endure as deaths climb into the hundreds and the cities must fly the Black Flag, thus warning all who enters.
In the nineteenth century, the Black Flag on a vessel also meant the crew or cargo was carrying the plague. However, most avoided to fly the Black Flag and warn others for two reasons: First, economics--to market their cargo; and second, to quickly unload the contagious victims and avoid exposing themselves. Any vessel flying the Black Flag would not be allowed to enter port and unload. Ships were turned away when the black flag was raised up the mast.
The skull and crossbones:
This was not conjured up in some pirates head. This symbol was also a symbol of death and it was attained from the wild Florida Indians; and perhaps, other Caribe Indians in the Island. It was first used as a warning sign by early explorers to avoid these areas. The native population was violent; massacring shipwreck survivors. Furthermore, survivors witnessed their habit of cannibalism. These original Florida tribes would take their tribal members who were deceased, dress them in ceremonial; beads; gold; silver; shells; ect. However, their enemy, even from other tribes would be burned; and sometimes, devoured.
However, regarding their own people arnd ceremonial burials.....They would suspend the body from crosspoles and let nature take its course. These practices were at sacred sites. When the tribe returned later. They would gather the bones and place them in a ceremonial burial mounds. The bones would be crossed and the skull set atop the bones. Sometimes, a favorite item in life belonging to the departed would be buried with the bones. I worked on one such bundle burial site--not to dig, but to assist our first county archeologist who found the site, to assemble graphics. I did a drawing (graphics) of the mound based on her measurements and field sketches and photographs. It was published in the Florida Anthropology Magazine in the late 1970's. The bones were crossed just as represented on pirate flags and the skull was positioned atop the bones. The bundle burial, found in Pompano Beach, Florda or thereabouts, contained a wooden canoe paddle; and it pre-dated European contact. Notably, the treasures such as glass beads; gold and silver beads; ect.,.found in these post-European contact Caloosa burial sites, are strewn in the soil off burial mounds--not on the mounds; but generally in close proximity to them. To the Europeans, these bundle burials was a sign that they were dealing with a violent people, hence, the skull and crossbones became a warning sign, perhaps placed first on maps, before being adopted to pirate flags.
My question:
Does anyone out their know of pre-1700 maps of Florida or the Caribbean that display Skull and crossbone symbols?
To find such would further validate the obvious.
