The HMB Endeavour, the ship commanded by Captain James Cook, is considered to be one of the greatest maritime mysteries of all time but researchers said this week they may have finally found the shipwreck's final resting place, according to the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project.
After a decadeslong search, a team from Rhode Island announced they had narrowed their search efforts down to a handful of archeological sites and will discuss further details of their fieldwork on Friday.
The vessel was purchased in 1768 by the British Admiralty for an expedition to observe the transit of Venus in 1769, The Captain Cook Society reported.
James Cook was selected for command of the expedition on the vessel, originally named the Earl of Pembroke.
The ship was later renamed the Endeavour Bark and was used during Cook's 1768 to 1771 voyage during which he landed on Australia's east coast and mapped New Zealand, CNN reported.
The ship was later renamed the Lord Sandwich and was used to transport troops before it was transformed into a prison brig.
The ship was ordered sunk along with 12 other transport ships during the American Revolution.
"The American army was assembled on the mainland and the French sent a fleet to help," RIMAP executive director Kathy Abbass told CNN in 2014. "The British knew they were at great risk so they ordered 13 ships out to be scuttled in a line to blockade the city. They were sunk in fairly shallow waters."
News of the ship's possible discovery comes on the 250th anniversary of Cook's departure from England in the Endeavour, with 2020 marking the anniversary of Cook's claim of Australia for Britain.
Friday's announcement will be attended by the chair of the Australian National Maritime Museum Peter Dexter, as well as Australia's consul-general Alastair Walton, News 9 noted.
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