Remnants of Captain Cook’s ship could soon be discovered as archeologists announce they may have found its final resting place off US waters.
Although the team of researchers from America and Australia can’t officially confirm where the wreckage lies, they have narrowed down the search to Newport Harbour, Rhode Island on America’s east coast, the ABC reports.
This week researchers from the Rhode Island Marine Archaelogy Project (RIMAP) and the Australian National Maritime Museum scoured the waters in difficult, muddy conditions following Hurricane Florence where a number of 18th-century wrecks lie.
After much investigation, the divers have narrowed down the search to two ships, with further research needed before reaching a final conclusion.
This is an exciting moment in Australian history as Captain Cook himself reached Australian shores in 1770 on board the famous vessel named, HMS Endeavour.
#BREAKING: Archaeologists may have found the final resting place of Captain Cook's ship in Rhode Island. pic.twitter.com/GwERAv6lKm
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) September 21, 2018
The ship was later renamed Lord Sandwich 2 before being used by the Royal Navy in the American war of independence.
Sadly in 1778, the vessel was sunk by the British with a dozen other ships off Newport, just one year before Cook’s own death.
Read more: Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour has been found at last
The discovery has made waves around the world with people from across the globe eagerly awaiting for it to be recovered.
However, it may take some time for that to happen as divers continue to battle with mud and old torpedoes, the ABC reports.
According to the national broadcaster researchers are hoping work will be able to continue after they receive more funding.
If all goes to plan decisions will be made by Australia, New Zealand, the UK and US, as to what happens with the wreckage, with all having competing claims over the ship.
Around two years ago RIMAP began to single down on the discovery of the ship after mapping nine archaeological sites of the 13 ships that were scuttled in Newport Harbour in 1778 during the American Revolution.
“All of the 13 ships lost in Newport during the Revolution are important to American history, but it will be a national celebration in Australia when RIMAP identifies the Endeavour,” they said at the time.