Last Updated on May 9, 2024
A mysterious object has emerged from beneath the sand on the shores of Volusia County, Florida, following a low tide and recent hurricane activity which removed significant amounts of sand from the beach.
The mysterious finding, initially described as a 80-feet-long object made of wood and metal, has now been identified as a 19th-century shipwreck.
The structure has started emerging from the sand in Daytona Beach due to erosion caused by Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole, with beach-goers coming up with a variety of theories of what the mysterious object could be.
Researchers and volunteers joined forces to dig around the structure in order to help identify joints, ribs and curved wood belonging to a vessel.
Upon in-depth examination, maritime archeologists agree that the structure likely belonged to a privately owned merchant ship dating back to the 1800s, probably transporting fruit from the Caribbean or manufactured goods along the coast.
Samples of the wood have been collected in order to shed even more light on this mystery.
The wreck is currently protected by a Florida law which forbids unauthorized individuals from removing, defacing, destroying or altering in any way any item of archaeological significance.
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