Captain Cook’s Endeavour wreckage has been conclusively identified off the coast of Rhode Island, according to scientists at the Australian National Maritime Museum. This discovery follows over two decades of research and points to the famous ship that was sunk during the American War of Independence.

Previously commanded by Captain James Cook, the HMS Endeavour was used to explore the Pacific before it became waterlogged and broken beneath the Atlantic waters. However, this exciting revelation has reignited tensions between Australian researchers and their American collaborators.

The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP), a partner in the search, has accused the Australian museum of straying from established protocols and allowing national biases to influence their findings. Director Dr. Kathy Abbass emphasizes that the evidence remains suggestive rather than conclusive, and numerous questions still linger around the wreck’s identification.

Despite these disputes, researchers remain confident in their assertion. They cite a robust collection of structural, archival, and archaeological evidence, such as timber matches and design overlays, indicating that the wreck labeled RI 2394 is indeed the Endeavour, which was renamed Lord Sandwich in its later years.

Originally commissioned in 1764 and launched as the Earl of Pembroke, the ship was repurposed by the Royal Navy in 1768 for its historic voyage aimed at observing the transit of Venus. However, Captain Cook’s ambitions extended beyond scientific pursuits, as he sought to claim territory for the British Crown.

The Endeavour eventually faded from prominence, sold to private owners, and scuttled during the Revolutionary War. Today, only about 15% of the wreck remains, but it serves as a potent symbol of enlightenment and imperialism.

While embraced by some as a beacon of exploration, it is also seen by others as a representation of colonization and cultural erasure in the Pacific. The Australian National Maritime Museum has called for prompt conservation actions due to the threats posed by marine life and the ravages of time.

Amid ongoing debates over its identity, the Endeavour continues to symbolize the complex legacy of empire.