I searched and found this:
BLACKBEARD: Ocracoke's Most Famous Visitor
Piracy was as much a state of mind as an occupation. Pirates built upon their reputations with actions and symbolic gestures. Flags were an important part of creating the total pirate image. Blackbeard's flag depicting a heart dripping blood while a skeleton held an hourglass and spear, was designed to strike fear in the hearts of his victims.
I love the outerbanks from Beaufort to Nags Head. Last week when I was at CALO I saw three separate remains of ship's timbers with what's left of rusted spikes sticking out. Probably date to the 1800's.