An Australian museum has announced the discovery of the final resting place of Captain James Cook’s research vessel Endeavour – sparking a furious row with US partner researchers who said claim was “premature” and a “breach of contract”.
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) said on Thursday it was “confident” they had found the spot where the research vessel sunk after more than two centuries.
The ship, known as the Endeavour, was famously used by Cook on his first voyage of discovery to the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1771, resulting in Britain’s first encounter with the “unknown southern land” – Australia.
ANMM chief executive Kevin Sumption told reporters at a media event in Sydney: “We can conclusively confirm that this is indeed the wreck of Cook’s Endeavour.
“This is an important moment. It is arguably one of the most important vessels in our maritime history.”
His announcement came after a 22-year investigation of a number of 18th century ships in a two-square mile area off the US coast.
The famous ship lay just 500 metres off the coast of Rhode Island, where it was “buried in nearly 250 years’ worth of sediment and silt”, 14 metres below the surface.
Read more: The Evening Standard
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