News
- Experts have confirmed that a shipwreck in Newport Harbour is Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour
- The final report follows twenty-five years of global underwater and historical archaeological research
- Only 15 percent of the ship remains, with efforts now focused on its protection and preservation
After 250 years, the final resting place of Captain James Cook’s HMS Endeavour has been confirmed in Newport Harbour, Rhode Island. The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) has announced that wreck RI 2394 is the famous vessel, ending decades of uncertainty surrounding its fate.
Between 1768 and 1771, Endeavour became the first European ship to circumnavigate New Zealand and reach Eastern Australia. After its landmark voyage, the ship was sold, renamed Lord Sandwich, and eventually sunk by the British in 1778 during the American War of Independence.
The ANMM report, based on 25 years of research, declared the identification of the wreck as a “definitive statement”. Museum director Daryl Karp said, “This final report is the culmination of 25 years of detailed and meticulous archaeological study on this important vessel. It has involved underwater investigation in the US and extensive research in institutions across the globe.”
Key evidence included timber remains exactly matching the positions of Endeavour’s main and fore masts, and measurements consistent with an official 1768 survey of the ship. Timber analysis showed European origins, aligning with known repairs made in 1776.
Archaeologist Kieran Hosty described the accuracy of the ship’s construction, stating, “The size of all the timber scantlings are almost identical to Endeavour, and I’m talking within millimetres – not inches, but millimetres.”
One particularly rare feature, the stem scarf joint, was found intact and matches historical records precisely. “This stem scarf is also a very unique feature – we’ve gone through a whole bunch of 18th-century ships plans, and we can’t find anything else like it,” Hosty said.
Despite the strong evidence, the announcement has not been without dispute. The ANMM’s U.S.-based research partner, the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP), has challenged the findings, calling them “premature” and a “breach of contract”. RIMAP acknowledges RI 2394 may be Endeavour but has not ruled out other wreck sites.
James Hunter, another ANMM archaeologist, noted, “The Lord Sandwich was intentionally scuttled – it was sunk on purpose as a block ship. The chances of finding artifacts that would provide an immediate identification, such as a bell, were very unlikely.”
Currently, only about 15 percent of the ship remains. The ANMM and its partners are now turning their attention to how best to preserve what’s left of one of history’s most significant exploration vessels.
Source: The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM)