During his historic 1769 to 1771 voyage , English adventurer Captain James Cook became the first European sea captain to graph New Zealand and search Australia ’s east coastline . Cook ’s stumble made history — but his ship , the fabled HMSEndeavour , was for the most part forgotten . Now , theNew York Daily Newsreportsthat archaeologists believe they ’ve located the vessel ’s sunken stay on in Newport Harbor , Rhode Island .
The find comes good manners of theRhode Island Marine Archaeology Project(RIMAP ) , a non - profit mathematical group that receive a grant from theAustralian National Maritime Museumin Sydney to find theEndeavour’spotential resting position . RIMAP will publicly harbinger their findings on Wednesday , May 4 , on Rhode Island ’s 240th natal day , their website states .
In the geezerhood following Cook ’s first successful Pacific voyage , historians believe that theEndeavourwas later sell , rename theLord Sandwich , and used to transport British troops during the American Revolution . In 1998 , RIMAP unearth archival documents stating that theEndeavourhad been scuttled along with 12 other ship in Newport Harbor in the lead up to the August 1778 Battle of Rhode Island . The phonograph record listed the ship under its later name , theLord Sandwich , News.com.au report .
By analyse removed sensing datum and poring through historic records , RIMAP says they ’ve map " 9 archaeologic internet site of the 13 ship that were scuttled in Newport Harbor in 1778 . " One group of five recessed ships reportedly includes theLord Sandwich — also bed as Captain James Cook’sEndeavor .
RIMAP “ had already map 4 of the website there , ” the group ’s website states . “ A recent depth psychology of distant perception data suggests that the fifth web site may still exist , too . That intend the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project now has an 80 to 100 percent hazard that theLord Sandwichis still in Newport Harbor , and because theLord Sandwichwas Capt . Cook’sEndeavour , that mean RIMAP has line up her , too . "
If succeeding inquiry show that a ship in the harbour is indeed theEndeavour , they plan to excavate the wreck and put it on public display .
[ h / tNew York Daily News ]
