Hurricanes Ian, Nicole unearth 'mystery object' in Florida, possibly from 1800s
There are no plans to move the ship from its current location.
Hurricanes Ian and Nicole caused severe erosion along the Florida coast in late fall - helping to reveal a wooden 'mystery object' that could date back to the 1800s.
The structure was spotted by beachgoers peaking out of the sand during American Thanksgiving weekend. It measures 24-30 metres.
On Monday, a team of archeologists arrived to study the wreck, carefully using their hands to brush away sand. Its origin is not yet confirmed - but experts suspect it is a cargo or merchant ship from the 1800s that likely sank during a storm.
Maritime archeologist Chuck Meide, leade of the excavation team, told CNN the structure has the markings of a shipwreck and is probably not a dock like some witnesses suspected.
Officials have no plans to transport the find elsewhere - the high-risk endeavour could cost millions of dollars, and experts believe it is best protected where it is.
“We will let Mother Nature bury the wreck,” Meide told the Orlando Sentinel.
“That will help preserve it. As long as that hull is in the dark and wet, it will last a very long time, hundreds of more years.”
