Captain Cook's legendary ship finally identified near New England resort after 250 years

Maritime experts judge they've yet pinpointed the nonstop resting spot of Captain James Cook's legendary vessel – conscionable disconnected the seashore of a beloved New England edifice town.

A study astir HMS Endeavour was published by the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) connected June 3.

In 1778, the British intentionally sank the vessel disconnected the seashore of Newport, Rhode Island, successful a strategical determination to artifact French and American attacks.

MYSTERIOUS 18TH-CENTURY WARSHIP UNEARTHED AT GROUND ZERO SITE GETS NEW HOME

While it has agelong been known that the 18th-century vas lies disconnected the coast of the Ocean State, its nonstop determination has eluded marine historians.

But present experts are definite that a Rhode Island authorities archaeological tract named RI 2394 is the last resting spot of the vessel – and they person decades of probe to backmost it up.

Maritime experts person identified Captain James Cook's HMS Endeavour disconnected Newport, Rhode Island, wherever it was intentionally sunk successful 1778. (Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images; Stock Montage via Getty Images)

Also known arsenic the "Kerry" site, the shipwreck is betwixt 39 and 43 feet underwater, the study says.

The tract includes a "linear chromatic ballast pile, the eastbound periphery of which features a enactment of partially exposed framework ends that are intimately spaced and of important size," according to the report.

OMINOUS LETTER WRITTEN BY 'PROPHETIC' TITANIC PASSENGER SELLS FOR SHOCKING SIX-FIGURE SUM AT AUCTION

"Four robust cannons are besides contiguous connected the site," the study continues. "Two are mostly exposed supra the seabed and prevarication instantly adjacent to 1 different connected the occidental broadside of the site."

The tract besides features remnants of floors, futtocks and a stanchion, which is simply a station that supported the ship's platform beams.

The HMS Endeavour is celebrated for being the archetypal European vas to scope Australia's eastbound coast. (SSPL via Getty Images)

"By 2019, cautious aboveground probe of each shipwrecks located wrong the Limited Study Area determined RI 2394 was the astir apt campaigner for [the] ex-HMS Endeavour," the study said.

The tract meets 10 criteria that experts antecedently agreed upon.

For much Lifestyle articles, sojourn foxnews.com/lifestyle

These see a deficiency of American timbers, a European elm keel, and grounds of hull repairs matching what is known astir HMS Endeavour.

The vessel besides has scuttling holes to beryllium it was intentionally sunk, and wide possessed "architectural features matching those of Endeavour."

A replica of the HMS Endeavour. The vessel was sold to a backstage proprietor successful 1775. (Wolter Peeters/The Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images)

The study concluded, "RI 2394 is the largest shipwreck tract wrong the LSA and exhibits attributes that fulfill the criteria."

"Consequently, the preponderance of grounds supports this shipwreck site’s recognition arsenic [HMS Endeavour] … and astatine the aforesaid clip discounts immoderate of the different investigated shipwreck sites arsenic that of James Cook’s renowned vessel of exploration."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The Endeavour holds large value successful Australian past arsenic the archetypal European vas to scope the country's eastbound coast.

After the vessel sailed the world, it was sold to a backstage national successful Feb. 1775 and renamed "Lord Sandwich" earlier it was scuttled.

Australian researchers person been searching for the HMS Endeavour for decades, arsenic the vessel is important successful Australian history. (Hulton Archive via Getty Images)

Marine archaeologists crossed the satellite are actively discovering countless numbers of shipwrecks per year. 

Just past week, officials announced that they had discovered a 16th-century shipwreck astatine grounds extent successful French waters.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Off the seashore of Ireland, underwater archaeologists precocious recovered an 18th-century vas that is believed to beryllium a long-lost treasure ship.